This bill would change an existing law to require every federal agency that funds, conducts, or oversees scientific research to adopt and publish a scientific integrity policy. Agencies must submit their policies to the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) for approval. The bill sets deadlines and steps: agencies must adopt policies and appoint a Scientific Integrity Officer within 90 days, set up training and an administrative dispute and appeal process within 180 days, and post annual reports about integrity complaints. OSTP must collect incident and annual reports and share them publicly and convene agency Scientific Integrity Officers each year. The bill also requires a Comptroller General review within two years and periodic five-year reviews of agency policies.
The required policies must prohibit research misconduct, suppression or improper delay of findings, intimidation or retaliation, and barriers to outside scientific cooperation. Policies must allow scientists and qualified staff to share results through conferences and peer-reviewed publications, serve on advisory boards and professional organizations, and participate in peer review. Agencies may require an internal technical accuracy review before publication if the agency has a clear and consistent review process. The policies must ensure hiring and personnel actions are based on expertise and scientific credentials (except for political appointees) and provide procedures consistent with administrative hearings and appeals. Existing agency policies in effect before this law can remain if the agency head certifies and OSTP approves them.
The bill defines covered agencies as those that fund, conduct, or oversee scientific research, and covered individuals as federal employees or contractors who do science, communicate scientific information, or use scientific information in agency decisions.
No publicly available information on costs or funding details is included in the bill text provided.
According to the bill text, proponents say science should guide policy, the public must be able to trust scientific findings, and scientific work and communication should be free from politics, ideology, and financial conflicts of interest. They argue agencies should prevent suppression or distortion of research, protect the rights of employees to communicate and petition, and set clear rules and training to ensure integrity in publicly funded science.
No publicly available information on opposing arguments or objections to this bill is included in the bill text or metadata provided.