Science academies sound alarm on political interference
Two prominent groups of scientists who regularly advise the government on Thursday warned of "alarming" political interference in the work of scientists and public health experts contributing to the government's coronavirus response.
The statement by the leaders of the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Medicine came one day after President Donald Trump suggested that he might reject an FDA proposal to raise standards for emergency use of any coronavirus vaccine.
"We find ongoing reports and incidents of the politicization of science, particularly the overriding of evidence and advice from public health officials and derision of government scientists, to be alarming," wrote NAS President Marcia McNutt and NAM President Victor Dzau. "It undermines the credibility of public health agencies and the public’s confidence in them when we need it most."
Trump said during a press briefing Wednesday that the changes sought by FDA were "a political move more than anything else," without offering any evidence to support the assertion. His remarks came hours after he spoke with HHS Secretary Alex Azar about the FDA proposal.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/science-academies-sound-alarm-on-political-interference/ar-BB19obOl?li=BBnb7Kz