Staff Reports
President Joe Biden’s administration appears to be stuck in high gear, racing against the clock to “Trump-proof” the realm of science before heading out the door. This initiative reportedly aims to prevent political meddling among government scientists if Donald Trump makes a triumphant return to the Oval Office. One must wonder, what exactly do they think will happen? A scientific coup led by Trump loyalists wielding beakers?
Many in Biden’s camp are reflecting on the Trump administration’s alleged transgressions, which include downgrading scientific research and prioritizing economic interests over, well, reality. An attorney from Columbia Law School lamented that previous White House actions supposedly suppressed vital scientific data to the point where the general populace developed a distrust towards science—perhaps a natural response when truth is based on the whims of political convenience.
Biden administration, Congress, and unions try to ‘Trump-proof’ science
President Joe Biden isn’t on the November ballot but his administration has been working overtime to “Trump-proof” science before his exit.https://t.co/uRVvndxtgI pic.twitter.com/wd2Uhb0JOp
— Trump2024_no_matter_what (@TexasTrump2024) August 7, 2024
Rather than accepting that scientific conclusions might vary based on ongoing research, Biden’s administration is pushing forward with plans to mask the government’s scientific endeavors from any future interference. This includes the establishment of a scientific integrity council meant to alert the nation’s scientists that they can work free from fear and political bias, the very same bias for which they held the previous administration responsible. This New Guard is determined to ensure no one is silenced and that data remains untouched by partisan hands.
Despite their concerns, one can’t help but notice the irony. The National Institutes of Health (NIH), which sees more than $40 billion funneled annually into research, is being dubbed “politics-free,” while simultaneously dealing with the aftermath of a pandemic. As memories of hydroxychloroquine debates and the ever-charming Dr. Anthony Fauci linger, those dreaming of a political utopia in scientific affairs must brace for the reality that all administrations grapple with politics. There’s certainly a certain charm in believing that bureaucracies operate like well-oiled machines unblemished by political influence.
And then there’s the controversial “Schedule F” initiative from the Trump era that could have led to mass firings of “career civil servants.” Such ideas spark panic among scientists who foresee a world where dissenting opinions could lead to unemployment. But let’s not forget—many in the scientific community have experienced what it means to be “surprised” before, especially when they suddenly realize politics doesn’t discriminate between party lines.
In an age when the scientific community fancies itself apolitical, it seems they are now rallying behind congressfull folks who promote “public science” untainted by political considerations. If only the same efforts could be turned towards the elephant in the room—the fact that science has never been free from political influence, regardless of party affiliation. It’s almost as if the pursuit of truth has become as detached from reality as partisan politics itself, and the cries for scientific integrity sound more like a call to arms rather than a genuine desire for truthful discourse. This will certainly be one interesting soap opera to watch unfold if the voting public decides to change narratives in the next election.
