EPA aims to safeguard scientists from political interference

By Sean Reilly, Kevin Bogardus | 01/16/2025 04:29 PM EST

The agency toughened its scientific integrity policy, days before the White House changes hands.

EPA headquarters in Washington. Flags fly on the building.

EPA headquarters in Washington. Justin Sullivan/AFP via Getty Images

EPA has released an updated scientific integrity policy that bolsters efforts to fend off political meddling, a change that assumes added importance with the return of President-elect Donald Trump to the White House.

Released Thursday, the update states that it is EPA policy to “not suppress, unreasonably delay, or alter scientific findings and products for non-scientific reasons or due to political interference or inappropriate influence.”

It adds, “This includes scientific findings and products generated by contractors, grantees, or other agency partners who assist with developing or applying the results of scientific activities.”

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That language is sharper and more specific than the version incorporated in EPA’s original 2012 scientific integrity policy, which said that managers and scientists were expected to “represent agency scientific activities clearly, accurately, honestly, objectively, thoroughly, without political or other interference.”

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