Science is at the core of a healthy democracy. But for years, presidential administrations have, in differing ways, sidelined scientific evidence and attacked scientific integrity.
Due to the large number of attacks on science we’re seeing from the second Trump administration, we are currently providing regular summaries of documented attacks.
- A Backward March: Another Month of Attacks on Federal Science (April 2, 2025)
- A Hundred Attacks and Counting: What Happened to Federal Science in February (March 12, 2025)
- How Science Has Fared in the First Two Weeks of the New Trump Administration (January 30, 2025)
Below is the list of documented attacks on science that occurred under the four previous administrations. They include disappearing data, silenced scientists, suppressed studies, and other assaults on science-based policy. More information on these attacks can be found in our peer-reviewed study and in our data repository.
Attacks on science
EPA Leadership Ignored EPA Scientists’ Concerns Over Mississippi Wetlands
While drafting an environmental impact statement, political appointees at the EPA failed to incorporate the science-based concerns of EPA scientists.
Trump Officials Ignored Concerns from EPA Scientists on Vehicle Efficiency Rule
The science-based concerns of scientists at the EPA were sidelined when the Trump administration finalized new standards for SAFE Vehicles rule in March 2020.
Political Officials Under Trump Refuse to Adopt New Dietary Guidelines
Officials from the USDA and HHS ignored scientifically backed advice for sugar and alcohol intake when releasing new dietary guidelines.
Trump administration interfered with CDC’s public outreach on COVID-19
President Trump and White House officials interfered with the work of the CDC by blocking scientists and officials from speaking to the media about the dangers of COVID-19.
Distorting Scientific Knowledge on Florida Panthers
FWS officials knowingly used flawed science in assessing the endangered Florida panther’s habitat and viability in order to facilitate proposed real estate development in southwest Florida.
EPA Officials Interfered with Chemical Safety Studies
Officials at the EPA directed agency staff to alter certain chemical safety studies in a way that downplayed the chemical’s health risks.
EPA Downgrades Severity of Cancer-Causing Pesticide
In February 2020, senior officials from the EPA omitted key scientific information from an assessment study examining the health risks of a cancer-causing pesticide.
Trump Administration Undermined Scientific Report on Endangered Species in California
Federal scientists were sidelined by the Trump administration when carrying out a scientific review on the risks to endangered wildlife from a California water project.
EPA Made it Harder to Enact New Air Pollution Regulations
The EPA released a final rule that would significantly alter how the agency analyzes the benefits and costs of new limits on air pollution rules.
Email Showing Attempted Manipulation of CDC COVID-19 Study was Buried
The CDC was ordered to destroy an email that contained evidence of a political official attempting to interfere with a COVID-19 study.
Related resources
Activist Resource
Scientific Society Sign-On Letter
This open letter, signed by more than 40 prominent scientific societies and organizations, was delivered to Congress in March 2025.
Activist Resource
Cumulative Impacts: Recommendations for EPA
To improve environmental health, UCS prepared eight fact sheets summarizing the recommendations of the NEJAC Cumulative Impacts Workgroup to the EPA.
Activist Resource
Resources for Federal Scientists
Are you a federal scientist, contractor, or federal worker? Here are resources to have on hand during the Trump administration.
Explainer
Applications of Climate, Energy, and Environmental Justice
Assessing the key different types of justice (distributive, procedural, and restorative) within the climate and energy movements can be challenging.