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 »
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NEWS FROM PEER
USGS Inches Toward Accreditation of Wildlife Disease Lab
Independent Review to Prevent Biosafety and Animal Welfare Breakdowns
Webinar | Environmental Whistleblowers: Good Trouble, Bad Trouble
Government employee whistleblower protections and strengthened scientific integrity principles are critical to address environmental and public health threats.
EPA Corrupted Pesticide Risk Assessment to Aid Industry
IG Found Managers Trampled Standard Procedures to Diminish Cancer Risk
COMMENTARY | EPA’s Myth of Scientific Integrity
The EPA keeps paying lip service to scientific integrity but reality, and the experiences of scientists at EPA, is a completely different story.
PEERMail | Propping Up Science In Government
Strong reliable government science can only be achieved with meaningful reforms and scientists who are protected in their work.
EPA Scientist Survey Yields Horrific Results
Scientist Feedback Scathing, Not Shared with Staff
Biden Scientific Integrity Initiative in Limbo
Leaderless OSTP Poised to Make Same Mistakes It Did under Obama
Lack of Scientists Dooms EPA Chemical Reviews
Crippling Staff Shortage in Chemical Safety Work Continues in 2022 Budget
COMMENTARY | Scientific Integrity’s Central Conundrum
The issues with Dr. Lander’s tenure in the White House are a symptom of a large problem with scientific integrity and research in federal government.
Biden’s Scientific Integrity Task Force Not Up to the Task
Overdue Report Admits Systemic Problems but Lacks Any Specific Remedies
EPA Hid Cancer Danger of “Green” Chemical It Promotes
Auto Workers and Consumers Exposed without Any Health Warnings
COMMENTARY | Curing EPA’s Culture of Corruption
Instead of wasting resources to stamp out dissent, EPA needs to clean up corruption in its management chain.
EPA Employees Pan State of Scientific Integrity
Many in New Survey Report Misconduct, Retaliation, and Feelings of Futility
EPA Science Integrity Program Is Beacon of False Hope
No Findings of Political Interference under Trump; Most Complaints Ignored
EPA Illegally Destroying Internal Records
Assessments and Comments Routinely Overwritten, Obliterating Drafts
EPA Chemical Reviews Corrupted by Industry Influence
Zero Chemicals Disapproved in Thoroughly Broken Risk Assessment Process
Reform Task Force Ignores Burgeoning Scientific Scandals
Scientific Integrity Review Eschews Scientist Interviews and Case Analyses
Scientific Transparency Policies Should Be Uniform
Agency-by-Agency Approach Undercuts Press Access and Freedom to Publish
EPA Risk Assessments Doctored to Mask Hazards
Managers Remove Elements of Risk without Analysts’ Knowledge or Consent
Scientific Misconduct Carries No Penalties
Scientific Integrity Policies Do Not Protect Scientists or Punish Manipulators