Donald Trump’s presidential administration was infamous for meddling in scientific research to achieve its preferred policy outcomes. But now employees at a crucial federal agency are trying to guard themselves from political intrusion in the event that Trump returns to the White House.
The union representing 8,000 workers at the Environmental Protection Agency just bargained a contract that includes what it calls “groundbreaking” protections for “scientific integrity.” The agreement assures that workers can report any abuses without fear of “retribution, reprisal, or retaliation,” and sends related disputes to an independent arbitrator rather than a political appointee.
The goal, the contract states, is to “prevent inappropriate interference in scientific work.”
Marie Owens Powell, the president of the American Federation of Government Employees Council 238, said she hopes the new protections embolden EPA workers to stand up when they believe science is being undermined for political reasons.
“The agency agreed the goal was to empower management and staff to prevent inappropriate interference in scientific work,” said Powell, a gas station storage tank inspector who works for the EPA in Pennsylvania. “You can’t be forced to change data or the interpretation of the data, as long as it’s based in sound science.”
The EPA said through a spokesperson that it was “pleased” to have reached the agreement.
“Scientific Integrity was one of several articles the parties agreed to include in the new [contract] for the first time,” the spokesperson said in an email. “This new article clarifies for AFGE [union] employees EPA’s commitment to a culture of scientific integrity.”
Powell said the union’s 13 locals representing EPA workers voted unanimously to ratify the contract, which also includes measures to promote diversity in hiring and promotions, as well as protections for remote work and flexible scheduling.
Trump officials routinely
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