Biden administration’s rule for federal scientists is a ‘gag order’, critics say

The rule was issued last month as part of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy’s rewrite of employee procedures. Photograph: Andrew Brookes/Getty Images/Image Source

The Biden administration has proposed what some critics label a “gag order” on federal scientists in the US that would largely bar them from publicly discussing their research, and could effectively prohibit them from taking part in controversial studies on issues like the climate crisis, chemical pollution and biosafety.

The rule would have a “chilling effect” on the nation’s scientific discourse, and a similar policy has already been used to censor scientists, said Jeff Ruch, Pacific director of Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (Peer), a non-profit that protects federal researchers.