- Scientific Integrity by munificent
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Blog: Leadership
general information
Specific Examples of the Abuse of Science
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in this section
Agency abuses: the environment
Agency abuses: public health
Science advisory committee abuses
Abuses: additional topics
related links
Sign the Scientists' Statement
Read the February 2004 report (pdf)
Read the July 2004 report (pdf)
In conjunction with the scientists' statement on scientific integrity, the Union of Concerned Scientists released two reports detailing multiple examples of the Bush administration's unprecedented manipulation, distortion, and suppression of government science.
Since the two UCS reports were published, the mainstream and scientific media have continued to report abuse after abuse, many of which may have dangerous impacts on our nation's health, safety, and environment. You can find links to some of the most recent news articles detaling specific abuses of science here.
UCS will continue to monitor federal agencies and science advisory committees for any additional abuses and, if necessary, will bring those abuses to the attention of the media and the public.
The following examples are taken from the two UCS reports.
Agency Abuses: The Environment
Deleting Scientific Advice on Endangered Salmon: Scientists asked to remove science-based recommendations from an official report
Endangered Species: Florida Panther, Bull Trout, Trumpter Swans: Research at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is distorted and suppressed
Mountaintop Removal Mining: Administration officials intentionally disregard extensive scientific study on mountaintop removal in Appalacia
Climate Change: Administration officials undermined science behind climate change by suppressing reports and publicly misrepresenting scientific consensus
Mercury Emissions: White House suppressed information about the impact of mercury on public health
Multiple Air Pollutants: The Environmental Protection Agency withheld an analysis showing the benefits of a bipartisan alternative to President Bush's Clear Skies Act
The Endangered Species Act: Administration officials are manipulating the scientific underpinnings of the policy making process
Forest Management: A "review team" primarily composed of non-scientists overruled a science-based plan for managing old-growth forest habitat and reducing fire risk
Agency Abuses: Public Health
Emergency Contraception: FDA appointees overruled staff scientists and two independent advisory panels to deny access to emergency contraception
Abstinence-only Education: The Administration has obscured scientific evaluation of abstinence-only education programs and pressured scientists to promote abstinence.
HIV/AIDS Education: The CDC was ordered to change its website to raise scientifically questionable doubt about the effectiveness of condoms in preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS.
Airborne Bacteria: A microbiologist was prohibited at least 11 times from publishing research on airborne bacteria originating from farm wastes.
Breast Cancer: Information suggesting a link between abortion and breast cancer was posted on a National Cancer Institute website despite objections from staff scientists.
Science Advisory Committees
Fogarty International Center Advisory Board: Qualified scientists, including a Nobel Laureate, were rejected after being subjected to political litmust tests.
President's Council on Bioethics: Two leading scientists were dismissed from the panel because of dissenting opinions on the ethics of biomedical research.
Arms Control Panel: A scientific committee that advised the State Department on matters of arms control was dismissed and never reappointed.
Army Science Board: An engineer was rejected from a panel because of a contribution to John McCain's 2000 presidential bid.
National Nuclear Security Administration Panel: A committee set up to advise the administration on scientific issues regarding the maintenance nation's nuclear weapons stockpile and the design and testing of new nuclear warheads was dismissed.
NIH: Drug Abuse Panel: Potential panel members were asked if they voted for President Bush.
Lead Poisoning Prevention Panel: Staff-recommended scientists are rejected from a panel considering acceptable levels of lead in drinking water and replaced by appointees with financial ties to the lead industry.
Workplace Safety Panel: Well-qualified scientists were rejected from a panel that evaluates grants for workplace injuries because of their support for a workplace ergonomics standard.
Reproductive Health Advisory Committee: An underqualified nominee was suggested as chair of an FDA committee on reproductive health despite scant credentials and highly partisan political views.
Additional Topics
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Peer Review: A deeply flawed new peer review rule was proposed and, while the most egregious abuses of science were taken out, the rule was ultimately adopted.
Aluminum Tubes in Iraq: The Administration knowingly disregarded scientific analysis of intelligence data that contradicted its case for war against Iraq.
Report other abuses of science anonymously or with attribution by using our secure web form .
To get involved in efforts to prevent the abuse of science, click here .
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