Public health agencies regularly use scientific methods and evidence to inform decisions. How do they protect scientific decision-making from being interfered with for political purposes?
The policies and procedures for ensuring scientific integrity at 4 agencies we reviewed do not define political interference or describe how it should be reported and addressed.
Employees told us they observed potential political interference but they didn’t report it because they:
- feared retaliation
- were unsure how to report issues
- believed agency leaders were already aware
Source:
- April 20, 2022. “Scientific Integrity: HHS Agencies Need to Develop Procedures and Train Staff on Reporting and Addressing Political Interference.” GAO-22-104613. U. S. Government Accountability Office.
https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-22-104613.
Government.