THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
_________________________________________
For Immediate Release March 9, 2009
MEMORANDUM FOR THE HEADS OF EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES
SUBJECT: Scientific Integrity
Science and the scientific process must inform and guide decisions of
my Administration on a wide range of issues, including improvement of
public health, protection of the environment, increased efficiency in
the use of energy and other resources, mitigation of the threat of
climate change, and protection of national security.
The public must be able to trust the science and scientific process
informing public policy decisions. Political officials should not
suppress or alter scientific or technological findings and
conclusions. If scientific and technological information is developed
and used by the Federal Government, it should ordinarily be made
available to the public. To the extent permitted by law, there should
be transparency in the preparation, identification, and use of
scientific and technological information in policymaking. The
selection of scientists and technology professionals for positions in
the executive branch should be based on their scientific and
technological knowledge, credentials, experience, and integrity.
By this memorandum, I assign to the Director of the Office of Science
and Technology Policy (Director) the responsibility for ensuring the
highest level of integrity in all aspects of the executive branch's
involvement with scientific and technological processes. The Director
shall confer, as appropriate, with the heads of executive departments
and agencies, including the Office of Management and Budget and offices
and agencies within the Executive Office of the President
(collectively, the "agencies"), and recommend a plan to achieve that
goal throughout the executive branch.
Specifically, I direct the following:
1. Within 120 days from the date of this memorandum, the Director shall
develop recommendations for Presidential action designed to guarantee
scientific integrity throughout the executive branch, based on the
following principles:
(a) The selection and retention of
candidates for science and technology positions in the executive branch
should be based on the candidate's knowledge, credentials, experience,
and integrity;
(b) Each agency should have appropriate rules and procedures to ensure
the integrity of the scientific process within the agency;
(c) When scientific or technological information is considered in
policy decisions, the information should be subject to well-established
scientific processes, including peer review where appropriate, and each
agency should appropriately and accurately reflect that information in
complying with and applying relevant statutory standards;
(d) Except for information that is properly restricted from disclosure
under procedures established in accordance with statute, regulation,
Executive Order, or Presidential Memorandum, each agency should make
available to the public the scientific or technological findings or
conclusions considered or relied on in policy decisions;
(e) Each agency should have in place procedures to identify and address
instances in which the scientific process or the integrity of
scientific and technological information may be compromised; and
(f) Each agency should adopt such additional procedures, including any
appropriate whistleblower protections, as are necessary to ensure the
integrity of scientific and technological information and processes on
which the agency relies in its decisionmaking or otherwise uses or
prepares.
2. Each agency shall make available any and all information deemed
by the Director to be necessary to inform the Director in making
recommendations to the President as requested by this memorandum. Each
agency shall coordinate with the Director in the development of any
interim procedures deemed necessary to ensure the integrity of
scientific decisionmaking pending the Director's recommendations called
for by this memorandum.
3. (a) Executive departments and agencies shall carry out the
provisions of this memorandum to the extent permitted by law and
consistent with their statutory and regulatory authorities and their
enforcement mechanisms.
(b) Nothing in this memorandum shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
(i) authority granted by law to an executive department, agency, or the head thereof; or
(ii) functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget
relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(c) This memorandum is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity, by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
4. The Director is hereby authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal Register.
BARACK OBAMA
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