Friday, a new draft of the revised Framework for Federal Scientific Integrity Policy and Practice was released by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy last month, but went largely unreported by the press.[Agency] scientists shall refrain from making or publishing statements that could be construed as being judgments of, or recommendations on, [an agency] or any other federal government policy, unless they have secured appropriate prior approval to do so.
"This restriction on discussing the implications of research has no place in a scientific integrity policy,"Ruch in a statement late last month. "Typically, it is only scientific research that has policy implications that is at risk of suppression or political manipulation." "Government scientists should not need to cast a profile in courage to openly discuss the implications of their research," Ruch added.
Dr. Carlos del Rio, an infectious disease professor at Emory University, and Dr. Angela Rasmussen, a virologist at the Center for Global Health Science and Security at Georgetown University, both noted that the policy could discourage scientists from working at federal agencies. \u201c@CarlosdelRio7 \ud83d\udcaf\ud83d\udcaf\ud83d\udcaf\n\nIf the USG wants the best and brightest, it can\u2019t restrict their ability to share their insights.\u201d