Agency: White House

Silencing Science Tracker

Agency: White House

2019-10-03 White House Strikes Climate Change Language from Vehicle Emissions Proposal Federal, White House Government Censorship Climate

The White House deleted references to climate change from a proposal limiting California’s ability to set stricter vehicle emissions standards.

2019-09-03 President Trump Falsely States that Alabama May be Under Threat from Hurricane Dorian Federal, White House Bias and Misrepresentation Climate, Other

On three separate occasions in September 2019, President Trump stated that Alabama was under threat from Hurricane Dorian even though no government weather forecast predicted any impact would be felt in the state.

2019-08-09 EPA Reverses Position on Alaska Mine Following Meeting Between President Trump and Alaska Governor AK, EPA, Federal, State, White House Bias and Misrepresentation Climate, Other

The EPA informed staff that it would no longer oppose the Pebble Mine project in Alaska, disregarding previous EPA studies

2019-06-14 One-Third of Advisory Committees to be Terminated Federal, White House Personnel Changes Climate, Other

President Trump issued an executive order directing federal agencies to terminate “at least one-third” of their current advisory committees. Critics argue that this will limit the scientific information and advice available to federal agencies and thus undermine science-based decision-making.

2019-06-05 Climate Science Misrepresented by President Trump Federal, White House Bias and Misrepresentation Climate

In a televised interview on Good Morning Britain, President Trump questioned the scientific consensus on climate change, asserting that weather patterns have “changed both ways.” The President also contracted scientific research showing that climate change is contributing to more frequent and severe extreme weather events.

2019-06 State Department Scientist Prevented from Submitting Written Testimony to Congress Federal, State Department, White House Government Censorship Climate

White House officials ordered a senior scientist at the U.S. Department of State not to submit written testimony on the threats posed by climate change to the House Intelligence Committee.

2019-04-25 Scientists Repeatedly Ignored in Alaska Oil Drilling Environmental Review Process DOI, Federal, White House Bias and Misrepresentation, Research Hindrance Climate

Under the Trump Administration, 1.6 million acres of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska has been opened up for oil drilling. In the rush to complete the environmental review process before leasing can begin, scientists have been repeatedly ignored and sidelined.

2019-04-08 Trump Administration Cuts Conservation Research Funding Federal, White House Budget Cuts Climate

As a result of budget cuts by the Trump Administration, 16 out of 22 Land Conservation Cooperative research centers have been placed on indefinite hiatus or completely eliminated.

2019-03-12 Anti-Science Views Endorsed by President Trump Federal, White House Bias and Misrepresentation Climate

President Trump posted a tweet which appeared to endorse erroneous claims, made by Patrick Moore, that climate change is “[f]ake [s]cience” and that increasing carbon dioxide emissions will benefit society.

2019-03 References to “Climate Change” Removed from EPA Document EPA, Federal, White House Government Censorship Climate

The White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs deleted several references to “climate change” from an EPA guidance document titled “Planning for Natural Disaster Debris.” The deleted references highlighted the link between climate change and extreme weather events.

2019-02-19 FEMA Science Panel Unofficially Suspended DHS, Federal, White House Personnel Changes Climate, Other

The Technical Mapping Advisory Council (TMAC) — a scientific panel charged with advising the Federal Emergency Management Agency — has not met in almost 5 months. During that period, TMAC has lacked a quorum, reportedly because the White House and Department of Homeland Security have delayed issuing security clearances to new members.

2019-01-28 Existence of Climate Change Questioned by President Trump Federal, White House Bias and Misrepresentation Climate

In a tweet discussing recent cold weather in the Midwest, President Trump appeared to suggest that climate change is not occurring, stating “[w]hat the hell is going on with Global Waming? [sic] Please come back fast, we need you!” The President’s statement was widely criticized by climate scientists, who emphasized that cold weather does not disprove the existence of climate change.

2019-01-20 Climate Science Misrepresented by President Trump Federal, White House Bias and Misrepresentation Climate

President Trump posted a tweet suggesting that recent cold weather in the U.S. disproves the existence of climate change. The President’s tweet was widely criticized by climate scientists, who noted that it confused short-term weather trends with longer-term changes in climate.

2018-11-23 Accuracy of National Climate Assessment Questioned by Trump Administration Federal, White House Bias and Misrepresentation Climate

A White House spokesperson questioned the accuracy of the Fourth National Climate Assessment, claiming that it overstates the risks associated with climate change because it was “based on the most extreme scenario, which contradicts long-established trends.” That claim was disputed by climate scientists, including one of the Assessment’s authors, who noted that it “considers ALL scenarios.”

2018-11-21 Existence of Climate Change Questioned by President Trump Federal, White House Bias and Misrepresentation Climate

President Trump posted a tweet suggesting that recent cold weather in the U.S. disproves the existence of climate change. The President’s tweet was widely criticized by climate scientists, who argued that it confused short-term weather trends with longer-term changes in climate.

2018-11-04 Scientific Consensus on Climate Change Questioned by President Trump Federal, White House Bias and Misrepresentation Climate

During a televised interview, President Trump questioned the scientific consensus on climate change, suggesting that scientists disagree on its causes. He also asserted that some scientists have overstated the role human activities play in climate change, saying “[w]e do have an impact but I don’t believe the impact is nearly what some scientists say.”

2018-11 Climate Change Omitted from Oceans Research Plan Federal, White House Government Censorship, Research Hindrance Climate

The White House published a new report, titled “Science and Technology for America’s Oceans,” identifying research priorities for oceans science and technology. The report omits a section discussing research priorities with respect to “the ocean’s role in climate,” which had appeared in all previous versions of the report.

2018-10-16 Climate Science Misrepresented by Vice President Pence Federal, White House Bias and Misrepresentation Climate

Vice President Mike Pence questioned scientific research showing that climate change is primarily caused by greenhouse gas emissions, telling reporters that its causes “are yet to be seen.”

2018-10-14 Climate Science Misrepresented by President Trump Federal, White House Bias and Misrepresentation Climate

In a televised interview, President Trump questioned scientific research showing that anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions are the primary driver of climate change, saying we “don’t know” what would have happened “with or without man.”

2018-10-02 References to “Climate Change” Removed from EPA Document EPA, Federal, White House Government Censorship Climate

The White House Office of Management and Budget removed several paragraphs discussing climate change and its impact on human health from a proposed EPA rule. The removed paragraphs emphasized the particular vulnerability of “children, the elderly, and the poor . . . to climate-related health effects.”

2018-09-18 Climate Change Omitted from National Biodefense Strategy Federal, White House Government Censorship Climate

The White House published a new National Biodefense Strategy, outlining measures to prevent and mitigate disease outbreaks. Despite numerous scientific studies finding that climate change will increase the risk of such outbreaks, it is not discussed anywhere in the strategy.

2018-09-05 References to “Climate Change” Removed from EPA Regulatory Impact Analysis EPA, Federal, White House Government Censorship Climate

The White House Office of Management and Budget removed several paragraphs discussing climate change and its impact on human health from EPA’s regulatory impact analysis on the proposed Affordable Clean Energy Rule.

2018-07-31 Climate Change Omitted from List of White House R&D Priorities Federal, White House Budget Cuts, Government Censorship, Research Hindrance Climate

The White House Office of Management and Budget and Office of Science and Technology Policy jointly released a memorandum outlining the Trump administration’s research and development priorities. Unlike previous versions, issued during the Obama administration, the memorandum does not list climate change as a priority area.

2018-05-14 Release of Scientific Study Blocked EPA, Federal, HHS, White House Government Censorship Other

White House and EPA officials sought to block publication of HHS study on the health effects of water contamination due to concerns that it would be a “public relations nightmare.”

2018-04-23 Release of Federal Sustainability Reports Delayed Federal, White House Government Censorship Climate

The White House Office of Management and Budget has delayed the release of sustainability reports prepared by at least seven federal agencies under Executive Order 13693 (signed by President Obama in March 2015).

2018-04-12 Use of Science in EPA Air Pollution Programs Restricted EPA, Federal, White House Bias and Misrepresentation Other

President Trump signed a memorandum directing the EPA Administrator to make changes to certain air pollution programs. The changes have implications for the use of science in developing and implementing air pollution protections.

2018-02-06 National Science and Technology Council to be Restructured Federal, White House Personnel Changes Climate, Other

The White House announced plans to restructure the interagency National Science and Technology Council, which was established in 1993 to coordinate science policy across the federal government. The restructure will be overseen by the Office of Science and Technology Policy, which has requested input from 20 federal agencies.

2018-01-28 Climate Science Misrepresented by President Trump Federal, White House Bias and Misrepresentation Climate

During an international television appearance, aired on ITV, President Trump misrepresented scientific data regarding climate change. The President made several incorrect statements, including suggesting that global temperatures are not increasing, and sea ice cover is not declining.

2017-12-31 Trump Administration Fails to Fill Science Positions Federal, White House Personnel Changes Climate, Other

As of December 31, 2017, President Trump had filled fewer government science positions than any other recent President, at the same point in time. Just 20 of the 83 positions designated by the National Academies of Sciences as “science appointees” had been filled.

2017-12-18 Climate Change Dropped from National Security Strategy Federal, White House Bias and Misrepresentation Climate

President Trump unveiled a new National Security Strategy, which omitted “climate change” from a list of global threats.

2017-10-23 Trump Administration Fails to Appoint Science Advisor Federal, White House Personnel Changes Other

As of October 23, 2017, the Trump administration had taken longer than any other to nominate a science adviser to head the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.

2017-08-17 Climate Change Omitted from White House’s List of FY2019 R&D Priorities Federal, White House Budget Cuts, Government Censorship Climate

The White House Office of Management and Budget and Office of Science and Technology Policy jointly released a memorandum outlining the Trump administration’s research and development priorities. Unlike previous versions, issued during the Obama administration, the memorandum does not list climate change as a priority area.

2017-01-21 Arctic Strategy Removed from White House Website Federal, White House Government Censorship Climate

The White House deleted links to the U.S. National Strategy for the Arctic and related documents from its website.

2017-01-20 “Climate Change” References Removed from White House Website Federal, White House Government Censorship Climate

The White House website was re-launched with all references to “climate change” removed.

2017-01-20 Research Grants Suspended by EPA EPA, Federal, White House Budget Cuts Climate, Other

On December 20, 2017, Trump administration official ordered the Environmental Protection Agency to suspend all research grants.

04-24-19 New Guidelines on the Use of Scientific Information Issued by OMB Federal, White House Bias and Misrepresentation Climate, Other

The White House Office of Management and Budget issued new guidelines on the use of “influential scientific, financial, or statistical information” by federal agencies. The guidelines direct federal agencies to make the research underlying such information publicly available. Critics fear that this could prevent agencies relying on scientific studies that are based on confidential data which cannot be publicly disclosed.