A New Era for American Science: The Gold Standard is Back

On May 23, 2025, President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order titled "Restoring Gold Standard Science. " This order aims to restore trust in scientific research and governance by establishing strict standards for scientific integrity.

1. Addressing Lost Trust in Science:

• Confidence in science has significantly declined in recent years due to incidents of data falsification and politicized information.

• The order responds to these challenges by emphasizing transparency and credibility in federally funded research.

2. Key Reforms Implemented:

• Restoration of Integrity Policies: Reinstatement of scientific integrity policies from the first Trump administration.

• Public Access Requirements: Mandates public access to scientific data, models, and source code.

• Transparent Communication: Requires clear communication regarding assumptions and uncertainties in scientific findings.

• Modeling Standards: Rejects the exclusive use of worst-case scenarios unless legally required.

• Evidence Evaluation: Introduces a "weight of scientific evidence" standard for assessments.

• Protection of Dissenting Views: Ensures protections for differing opinions and prevents ideological misuse of science.

• Internal Oversight Mechanisms: Establishes senior appointees to ensure adherence to these standards and address violations.

3. Goals of the Executive Order:

• To ensure the science used by government agencies represents accurate and unobstructed reality.

• To reassert that government science should focus on the public good rather than political motives.

• To establish that scientific processes must be based on sound methodology, where all hypotheses are testable and negative results are valued.

4. Historical Context:

• The order reflects a shift back to foundational scientific principles that foster credibility and innovation.

• It aims to address specific failures in data handling and public communication seen in previous administrations.

The issuance of this executive order marks a new beginning for American science, prioritizing accountability and the trust of the public. It replaces previous directives that compromised scientific integrity, reinforcing the importance of high standards in government-led scientific research. The "Gold Standard" in science is not just a concept; it is now a legal requirement. 

https://wattsupwiththat.com/2025/05/27/a-new-era-for-american-science-the-gold-standard-is-back/