The Executive Order “Restoring Gold Standard Science” is Dangerous for America

Abstract

The recent U.S. executive order “Restoring Gold Standard Science” poses a significant threat to the U.S. national economy and security. The order replaces the scientific experts who lead U.S. governmental scientific organizations with non-scientific political appointees who would have the power to decide what science could and could not be published. In doing so, the executive order threatens to reverse more than 80 years of scientific advancements that have given the U.S. its world-leading military, technology, and economy. The justifications provided in the executive order for this change in policy are false or misleading in their assessment and representation of the current state of U.S. scientific scholarship. Hypocritical in its aims, the executive order claims to promote integrity in science while at the same time calling to remove the “Framework for Federal Scientific Integrity Policy and Practice” that currently ensure veracity and credibility in science. The executive order is also unconstitutional, threatening to take away the First Amendment rights of scientists by punishing them if they publish truthful and accurate science that is contrary to the administration's political agenda. Such censorship of scientists has been attempted by failed governments of the past such as Nazi Germany, the Soviet Union, and early communist China, always with disastrous consequences for their citizens. “Restoring Gold Standard Science” needs to be rescinded to avoid catastrophic consequences for the U.S. economy and national security.