By mandating “Gold Standard” science, this order presents itself as an effort to restore trust in federally funded research as a public good. While it promotes principles aligned with strong research practices, applying these standards rigidly may undermine the production, use, interpretation, and communication of scientific data for biomedical, behavioral health, and social science fields. It grants political appointees in federal health agencies the authority to designate research on certain topics (like climate protection, infectious disease control, and health equity) as scientific misconduct and disqualify credible scientific findings as misleading. The order may be used by policymakers to dismiss scientific evidence as uncredible, inaccurate, or biased. It may also undermine confidence in prior scientific work, suggesting past research was flawed or untrustworthy. Scientific and clinical research is critical to the healthcare system and improving care. Due to health inequalities and social barriers to research participation, scientific and clinical research lacks diversity. Diversity in research reduces bias and informs treatment and its affects on different groups of people. While claiming to promote rigor, it risks sidelining equity focused scientific data and may create public confusion or distrust in important equity initiatives built on prior evidence. It also establishes internal processes within each agency to review potential violations, subjecting agency employees and contractors to potential disciplinary actions.
A directive issued by the President that manages operations of the federal government. Executive orders have the force of law but must align with existing statutes and constitutional authority.
Who It Impacts: Federal agencies and employees, directing them on how to implement laws or carry out government functions. Executive orders can also influence businesses and individuals when they relate to issues like immigration, trade, or labor policies.
Who Is Not Impacted: Private citizens and businesses do not have to directly follow an executive order unless it leads to regulations or policies that apply to them. For example, an executive order directing federal agencies to increase renewable energy use does not mandate action from private companies, but it may influence policy shifts that eventually affect them.
Summary
This order requires federal agencies to use transparent, rigorous, and unbiased science in decision-making to restore public trust. Under this order, “Gold Standard Science” refers to science conducted in a manner that is deemed reproducible, transparent, communicative of error, interdisciplinary, skeptical of findings and assumptions, subject to unbiased peer review, accepting of negative results, and free from conflicts of interest. The order references prior administrative actions that “politicized” science and compromised scientific integrity, including incorporation of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) considerations in science planning, execution, and communication. The order calls for the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy to issue guidance on the implementation of “Gold Standard Science” and all agency heads to update and enforce agency policies accordingly.
Impact Analysis
Legal Challenges
None.
Take Institutional Action
- Implement or reinforce training for staff on the importance of scientific integrity, bioethics, and equitable research approaches.
- Standardize an organizational research statement outlining metrics for achieving “gold standard” research that emphasize the importance of health equity.
- Establish clear protocols to continue using diverse, community-informed data sources in decision-making.
- Develop crisis communication strategies to reduce confusion or fear among staff, patients, and communities.
- Communicate proactively with patients and community about research methods and results
Associated or Derivative Policies
None.
Policy Prior to 2025
None.
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