The framework forms a subcommittee on scientific integrity—made up of career officials—within the National Science Technology Council, creates metrics against which agencies should track their policies and standardizes definitions across the government.
To Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, however, the Biden administration erred in not identifying specific, new procedures to guarantee career scientists would not face retaliation for presenting findings that may conflict with an administration’s agenda. The model policy OSTP presented called on agencies to investigate allegations of integrity policy violations and “enforce administrative actions” when appropriate. Agencies should protect those who report violations and prevent coercion to alter scientific data or professional opinions, the White House office said, and abide by existing whistleblower laws.
