President Trump Issues EO to Restore ‘Gold Standard in Science’

On May 23, President Trump issued an Executive Order (EO), Restoring Gold Standard Science. The EO indicates that science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) research is facing a “reproducibility crisis” which the order claims is a result of researchers’ “falsification of data” and the Federal Agencies publication of “highly misleading” research. The EO also took aim at diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies that “further politicized science,” aligning with previous EO’s dismantling similar policies (see previous COSSA coverage).

The Trump Administration has tasked the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) to issue guidance for agencies on the implementation of “Gold Standard Science,” addressing perceived concerns of reproducibility and transparency. While this has been a top priority for the White House, there is little evidence to suggest that these are widespread issues in the research community. The EO also directs all Federal Agencies to revert back to the scientific integrity policies that were in place on January 19, 2021, and tasked each with revoking any changes made to the agency through the Presidential Memorandum, Restoring Trust in Government through Scientific Integrity and Evidence-Based Policymaking, issued by former President Biden (see previous COSSA coverage).

The EO was accompanied by a fact sheet that includes a “call to excellence for America’s researchers” which encourages outside organizations and academia to adhere to the standards proposed.