Broun Letter to OSTP on Scientific Integrity

Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight Ranking Member Paul Broun (R-GA) sent a letter to the Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, Dr. John Holdren, requesting information regarding recent events that call into question scientific integrity and transparency at the federal agencies.

“While I commend the President for taking proactive steps to ensure scientific integrity and transparency in the federal government, recent incidents at several agencies paint a different picture of how this Administration may view these issues,” Broun said in the letter.  “Viewed individually, each of these cases is cause enough for concern, but when viewed together, I fear they reveal a troubling pattern that warrants immediate attention.”

The letter outlines a number of recent incidents where it appears that political motives have clashed with scientific debate, raising concerns over transparency within the scientific community.  Broun states in the letter that “The importance of these underlying issues being addressed is far-reaching and will impact the lives of every American.  Consequently, the public deserves more than rhetoric.” 

Broun goes on to request a plan from the Administration to reconcile the discrepancies associated with these events with the Administration’s principles of scientific integrity and transparency, as outlined in the President’s January 21 and March 9, 2009 memoranda.  Moreover, to ensure whistleblower protections, Broun requested a plan to guarantee that negative employment actions will not be taken against individuals who present information contrary to the Administration’s policy goals.