# What the Scientific Integrity Act Actually Does

This bill is about protecting scientists who work for the federal government—or are paid by federal grants—from being pressured to hide, change, or delay their research findings. It establishes clear rules that federal agencies must follow to ensure that scientific research stays honest and isn't manipulated for political or other reasons.

Here's what matters in practical terms: Right now, there's no consistent standard across federal agencies for how scientists should be treated when they discover something their bosses don't want to hear. This bill creates that standard. It says federal agencies that fund or conduct research must adopt written policies protecting scientists' ability to publish their work, present at conferences, and talk to the media about what they've found. The policies also prohibit agencies from punishing scientists for their findings or pressuring them to change results. Think of it like creating a rulebook so a scientist studying climate change, disease, or environmental safety can't be fired or demoted just because their results are inconvenient to politicians or agency leadership.

The bill also requires each federal agency to appoint a "Scientific Integrity Officer"—essentially a referee who handles complaints when scientists feel their work has been suppressed or they've been retaliated against. Agencies must establish a formal process for disputes and appeals, similar to how other workplace grievances are handled. Every year, these officers must publicly report how many complaints they received and what happened with them, so there's transparency about whether the system is actually working.

For most Americans, this matters because federal science influences major policy decisions about public health, environmental protection, and national security. If scientists can't speak freely about what they discover, the public and policymakers end up making decisions based on incomplete or distorted information. This bill aims to make sure that doesn't happen.

Scientific Integrity Act

Tonko, Paul

Scientific Integrity Act This bill revises provisions regarding the release of scientific research results by federal agencies. Each agency that funds, conducts, or oversees scientific research must (1) adopt and enforce a scientific integrity policy that includes requirements such as that scientific conclusions are not based on political considerations, and (2) submit such policy to the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) for approval. Each agency must make such policy available to the public and submit such policy to Congress. Agencies and the OSTP must periodically review the policies. The Government Accountability Office shall review implementation of the policies. Each agency shall (1) appoint a Scientific Integrity Officer, (2) establish a process for dispute resolution consistent with the scientific integrity policy, and (3) establish a specified training program for current and new employees.