White House Assembles Task Force to Sever Politics from Science

The 46-person panel will identify instances when politics got in the way of science since 2009.

Written byLisa Winter

| 2 min read

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One week after taking the oath of office, President Joe Biden issued a memo announcing the assembly of a task force that would identify and make recommendations to rectify incidences of partisan politics interfering with scientific policy. The decision built upon presidential memos from former President Barack Obama’s time in office, when Biden was the Vice President. Now, a 46-person panel has been assembled with the ultimate goal of reinstating public trust in science by removing partisan pressure from policy making, the Associated Press reports.

“We want people to be able to trust what the federal government is telling you, whether it’s a weather forecast or information about vaccine safety or whatever,” Jane Lubchenco, the deputy director for climate and environment at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, tells the AP.

Former President Donald Trump’s tenure in office was rife with complaints of ...

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Meet the Author

Lisa Winter
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Lisa joined The Scientist in 2017. As social media editor, some of her duties include creating content, managing interactions, and developing strategies for the brand’s social media presence. She also contributes to the News & Opinion section of the website. Lisa holds a degree in Biological Sciences with a concentration in genetics, cell, and developmental biology from Arizona State University and has worked in science communication since 2012.
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