Investigation of the Bush administration's abuse of science
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The February 2004 Report
Read an introduction to the report
Read the Executive Summary PDF
Read the full report PDF
The July 2004 Update
Read an introduction to the report
Read the July Update PDF
On February 18, 2004, 62 preeminent scientists including Nobel laureates, National
Medal of Science recipients, former senior advisers to administrations of both
parties, numerous members of the National Academy of Sciences, and other well-
known researchers released a statement titled Restoring Scientific Integrity in Policy
Making. In this statement, the scientists charged the Bush administration with
widespread and unprecedented "manipulation of the process through which science
enters into its decisions."
The scientists’ statement made brief reference to specific cases that illustrate this
pattern of behavior. In conjunction with the statement, the Union of Concerned
Scientists (UCS) released detailed documentation backing up the scientists’ charges
in its report, Scientific Integrity in Policy Making.
Regrettably, The Bush administration has continued to undermine the integrity of
science in policy making seemingly unchecked. To document new incidents that
surfaced since the report's release, UCS released a second report titled Scientific
Integrity in Policy Making: Further investigation of the Bush administration's abuse
of science. Read selected cases from the two reports.
The two reports present the following findings:
- There is a well established pattern of suppression and distortion of scientific
findings by high-ranking Bush administration political appointees across
numerous federal agencies. These actions have consequences for human
health, public safety, and community well-being. - There is strong documentation of a wide-ranging effort to manipulate the
government's scientific advisory system to prevent the appearance of advice
that might run counter to the administration's political agenda. - There is evidence that the administration often imposes restrictions on what
government scientists can say or write about "sensitive" topics. - There is significant evidence that the scope and scale of the abuse of science
by the Bush administration are unprecedented.
Concern in the scientific community is still growing. Many scientists continue to
speak out about their frustration with an administration that has undermined the
quality of the science that informs policy making by suppressing, distorting, or
manipulating the work done by scientists at federal agencies and on scientific
advisory panels. You can find some of the most recent abuses of science as
reported by the mainstream and scientific press here.
In the months since the original UCS report, more than 6,000 scientists have
signed on to the scientists’ statement. Signers include 48 Nobel laureates, 62
National Medal of Science recipients, and 135 members of the National Academy of
Sciences. A number of these scientists have served in multiple administrations,
both Democratic and Republican, underscoring the unprecedented nature of this
administration’s practices and demonstrating that the issues of scientific integrity
transcend partisan politics.
On April 2, 2004, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy issued a
statement by John H. Marburger, III, the director of OSTP, that claims the
descriptions of the incidents in the UCS report are all “false,” “wrong,” or “a
distortion.” UCS analysis of the particulars (pdf) in the White House document
shows that these claims are unjustified. Since that time, the administration has
been virtually silent on the issue.
Given the lack of serious consideration and response by the administration to
concerns raised by scores of prominent scientists, UCS is committed to continuing
to investigate and publicize cases—corroborated by witnesses and documentation—
in which politics is allowed to stifle or distort the integrity of the scientific process in
governmental policy making. UCS—working with scientists across many disciplines,
other organizations, and elected officials—will also seek to develop and implement
solutions that will protect government scientists from retribution when they bring
scientific abuse to light, provide better scientific advice to Congress, strengthen the
role of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, strengthen and ensure
adherence to conflict of interest guidelines for federal advisory panels, and ensure
full access to government scientific analysis that has not been legitimately classified
for national security reasons.
The United States has an impressive history of investing in and reaping the benefits
of scientific research. The actions by the Bush administration threaten to undermine
the morale and compromise the integrity of scientists working for and advising
America’s world-class governmental research institutions and agencies. Not only
does the public expect and deserve government to provide it with accurate
information, the government has a responsibility to ensure that policy decisions are
not based on intentionally or knowingly flawed science. To do so carries serious
implications for the health, safety, and environment of all Americans.
