Fighting for Scientific Integrity and the Protection of Scientists
Public agency scientists are under growing political pressure to alter, dilute, or suppress their findings on issues of controversy. All too frequently, government leaders repudiate or interfere with the work of scientists when evidence supports policies that threaten powerful interests. This is especially true for those scientists working on environmental and public health issues, who must contend with:
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- The suppression of science related to climate change and energy uses;
- Altering or disregarding environmental impact assessments;
- Interference in research and staff decisions;
- Retaliation for conclusion that are inconvenient to a political viewpoint or that expose scientific integrity abuses.
For each story in the news, scores of other instances are taking place behind the scenes in government laboratories, in grant review sessions, and in field stations across the country. On issues ranging from climate change to children’s health to pollution permits to land management issues, public agency scientists are being censored, obstructed, and marginalized.
PEER provides free, accessible, and completely confidential legal consultation and counsel to government scientists. We work to keep government science strong, independent, and transparent so that it can support effective decision-making.
Academic Freedom In New York

Dr. David Carpenter, a long tenured professor and the founding Dean of the University at Albany’s School of Public Health, had been forbidden from teaching and barred from coming to campus by university administrators on the grounds that he was the subject of an ongoing investigation.
Dr. Carpenter’s longtime public interest work and testimony in numerous lawsuits aiming to impose restrictions on human exposure to harmful chemicals and to compensate the injured have drawn the ire of the chemical industry, specifically Monsanto. Watch the Video »
First Biden Scientific Integrity Policy Falls Well Short
Timid Health & Human Services Proposal Will Not Prevent Trump Abuses
NEWS FROM PEER
CPSC Scientific Integrity Plan Has a Screw Loose
Consumer Product Safety Commission Seeks to Muzzle Its Researchers
NIH’s Science Integrity Plan Has Missing and Misplaced Pieces
Draft Policy Faulted as Incomplete, Inconsistent, and Essentially Ineffective
Dr. Peter Corkeron: Fighting to Save the North Atlantic Right Whales
Dr. Corkeron faced enormous pressure during his time at NOAA, to not document and generally suppress concerns over the population management of North Atlantic Right Whales.
COMMENTARY | White House Censorship in the Name of Scientific Integrity
There is good reason to fear that a new Biden administration policy will create a broad chilling effect on scientific work involving hot button topics.
Dr. David Carpenter: Academic Freedom in Public Health
Dr. David Carpenter had been forbidden from teaching and barred from campus after an investigation launched through corporate political pressure over his research.
First Biden Scientific Integrity Policy Falls Well Short
Timid Health & Human Services Proposal Will Not Prevent Trump Abuses
U.S. Public Health Research to Face New Restrictions
Impending Ban on HHS Scientists Raising Policy Implications of Research
May a Federal Scientist Do a Media Interview?
It’s Complicated: “Soft Gags” Mix False Transparency with Vague Threats
White House Urged to Tighten Scientific Integrity Policy
Government-Wide Enforceable Transparency & Accountability Rules Needed
COMMENTARY | Scientific Integrity Is Not a Popularity Contest
Scientists who formally file dissenting opinions that challenge the orthodoxy of their agency, are often on a lonely, fraught journey.
Public Health Scientist Sidelined by Industry Tactics
Academic Freedom Complaint Filed with University at Albany Senate
Op-Ed | Herding Cats: Biden’s Myopic Approach to Scientific Integrity
The president has made it clear he believes scientific integrity is an important value. Now he must show it more forcefully.
Science Integrity Plan Throws Scientists Under the Bus
OSTP Encourages Dissent but Offers No Legal Protection Against Backlash
OSTP Slips Gag Rule into Model Scientific Integrity Policy
Scientists Prohibited from Policy Recommendations in Presenting Research
Biden New Science Integrity Plan: Buzzwords and Evasions
Guidance Unlikely to Strengthen Agency Policies Over Next 12 Months
EPA Scientific Integrity Program Lacks Integrity
Unable to Document Claimed Successes; Complaints Pending Since 2015
NOAA Passes the Buck on Alaska Crab Fishery Collapses
Denies Blame for Wildly Inflated Population Estimates Causing Overfishing
Fumigant Decision Shows EPA Science at Its Worst
EPA Doubles Down on Mistakes Despite Whistleblower and IG Critiques
Ruling Bares Reprisal Culture Atop USGS Lab
Judge Finds Retaliation for Dangerous Biosafety Breakdown Reports
COMMENTARY | U.S. Geological Survey Labs Must Cure Culture of Reprisal
Third party review will help prevent future scientific scandals at the U.S. Geological Survey by providing a safe channel for USGS scientists to report problems without fear of reprisal.