Restoring Gold Standard Science: A New Era for Scientific Integrity
In a move aimed at restoring public trust in the scientific enterprise, the White House has issued a new executive order, "Restoring Gold Standard Science," which seeks to ensure that federally funded research is transparent, rigorous, and impactful. The order, signed by President Donald J. Trump on May 23, 2025, outlines a comprehensive plan to revitalise the scientific integrity policies of the US government.
According to the White House, the order is designed to address the growing concern that scientists are facing a reproducibility crisis, with a majority of researchers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics believing that science is facing a crisis of credibility. The order cites several high-profile cases of scientific misconduct, including the falsification of data by leading researchers, which has led to the retraction of federally funded research.
The White House order emphasises the need for scientific integrity in the production and use of science by the federal government, citing the importance of maintaining the trust of the American people and ensuring confidence in government decisions informed by science. To achieve this goal, the order establishes a set of principles for "Gold Standard Science," which includes reproducibility, transparency, communicative of error and uncertainty, collaboration, and unbiased peer review.
The order also sets out specific guidelines for agencies to follow in implementing Gold Standard Science, including the requirement that agencies make publicly available influential scientific information, such as data, analyses, and conclusions associated with scientific and technological information produced or used by the agency. The White House order also stresses the importance of acknowledging and documenting uncertainties, and of using a "weight of scientific evidence" approach when evaluating scientific information.
In addition, the order establishes a framework for enforcement and oversight, requiring agencies to establish internal processes to evaluate alleged violations of the requirements of the order and to take corrective action where necessary. The White House order also provides for waivers of the requirements of the order for good cause shown, and makes clear that the policies and requirements of the order do not apply to non-scientific aspects of agency decision-making.
The White House order has been welcomed by many in the scientific community, who see it as a positive step towards restoring public trust in the scientific enterprise. As the order notes, "Reproducibility, rigor, and unbiased peer review must be maintained" in order to ensure that scientific research is reliable and trustworthy.
In terms of implementation, the order requires agencies to update their scientific integrity policies within 30 days of the date of the order, and to report to the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) on their progress within 60 days. The order also requires agencies to incorporate the principles of Gold Standard Science into their processes for conducting, managing, interpreting, communicating, and using scientific or technological information.
Overall, the White House order represents a significant effort to restore public trust in the scientific enterprise, and to ensure that federally funded research is conducted to the highest standards of integrity and transparency. As the scientific community continues to grapple with the challenges of reproducibility and credibility, this order provides a welcome framework for promoting Gold Standard Science.
The order also highlights the importance of scientific integrity in informing policy decisions, stating that "scientific integrity in the production and use of science by the Federal Government is critical to maintaining the trust of the American people and ensuring confidence in government decisions informed by science." The White House order is a clear commitment to upholding the highest standards of scientific integrity, and ensuring that science is used to inform policy decisions in a transparent and reliable way.
By signing this order, the White House is taking a crucial step towards restoring public trust in the scientific enterprise, and promoting a culture of scientific integrity and transparency. The order’s emphasis on Gold Standard Science, and its commitment to reproducibility, transparency, and unbiased peer review, will help to ensure that federally funded research is conducted to the highest standards of integrity and reliability.
