Political science?

The ranking Democrat on the House Committee on Science subcommittee on environment, technology, and standards has asked the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to formally investigate ongoing complaints that the Bush administration has suppressed science research that doesn’t agree with its policy positions. In his request, Oregon Representative David Wu cited attempts by a political appointee at NASA earlier this year to prevent a prominent agency scientist from talking about global warming (see Physics Today, May 2006, page 27 ; also this issue, page 24 ). Wu also pointed to the suspension of a forest research grant at Oregon State University “because it reflected adversely on commercial forestry interests.” Wu complained about the grant suspension to presidential science adviser John Marburger, and the funding was reinstated.

“Despite assurances [by Marburger and other administration officials] to the contrary, it appears that the roles of science and political policy continue to be confused,” Wu said in his May GAO request. In addition to investigating allegations by government scientists that their work has been suppressed, delayed, or changed, Wu wants the GAO to look at claims made by Environmental Protection Agency science advisers during recent congressional hearings that environmental reports the administration doesn’t agree with—some up to 10 years old and dating back to the Clinton administration—have languished in draft form at the agency. Wu asked that the GAO investigation be completed by February 2008. A spokesperson for Wu said she expected the investigation to go forward.