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
Communication from Multiple Agencies Restricted after Trump Takes Office
In the first week of the Trump administration, media blackouts were issued across many federal agencies—and science-driven agencies that work on climate change were among the primary targets.
EPA Downplayed Risks of Fracking and Drinking Water Contamination
An EPA official downplayed the risks of fracking operations leading to the contamination of drinking water sources.
Political Officials Refused to Protect the Wolverine Under the Endangered Species Act
FWS leadership decided to ignore the scientists’ recommendations and not move forward listing the wolverine as a threatened species.
CDC Removes Information on Skin Cancer Due to Indoor Tanning Industry
Due to industry pressure, the CDC removed from its website information on the risk of melanoma cancer from indoor tanning.
White House Weakened Rule to Regulate Formaldehyde
The White House’s OMB altered the EPA's findings underlying a rule to regulate the use of formaldehyde.
EPA Approved Pesticide that Harmed Honeybees
The EPA approved the insecticide sulfoxaflor despite insufficient data documenting its environmental safety and ignoring the EPA’s own ecological assessment that showed that it is harmful to bee populations.
EPA Restricts its Science Advisors from Communicating with the Public
The EPA's Chief of Staff sent an official memo to the EPA’s SAB to place restrictions on their ability to communicate about their work.
White House Delayed Rule to Protect Workers from Harmful Silica Dust
For over two years, the White House’s OMB delayed the review of a rule meant to protect workers from dangerous silica dust exposure.
Scientists Critical of Gray Wolf Plan Were Purged from an Independent Review Panel
Officials at the FWS removed three of the nation’s top wolf experts from an independent science review panel.
USGS Cancels Study on Coal Mining
To keep in line with the Obama administration’s priorities, leaders at the USGS pulled funding for a research project that examined the public health effects of mountaintop removal coal mining.
Related resources
Report
Advancing the Scientific Integrity Act
Scientific Integrity Act Policy Brief
Activist Resource
Scientific Societies Call on Congress to Save Science
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.