USDA Justifies Scientific Suppresion as Its Policy

[JohnyCanuck]

Confidential Agency Panel Approves Censorship and Media Gag Orders

Washington, DC — Under its policy purporting to protect scientific integrity, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is entitled to do just the opposite, according to confidential findings by an internal agency panel released today by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER). The panel rejected a complaint by one of its top entomologists that USDA purged controversial findings, blocked publication of research papers with policy implications, and forbade scientists from being interviewed by reporters.

These conclusions come from a report by a five-member “Scientific Integrity Review Panel” convened to review the dismissal of a complaint filed by Dr. Jonathan Lundgren, a Senior Research Entomologist and Lab Supervisor for the USDA Agriculture Research Service based in South Dakota who has published research about adverse effects on monarch butterflies from widely-used neonicotinoid insecticides (or “neonics”). The panel agreed that Dr. Lundgren’s complaint should not be pursued because –

The panel was told that charges of “reprisal” and retaliatory investigations were outside the scope of its review;

The panel found that USDA is entitled to prohibit scientists from speaking with reporters or even answering questions at conferences about the significance or ramifications of published studies; and

USDA’s Scientific Integrity Policy explicitly authorizes it to block publication of research containing “statements that could be construed as being judgments of or recommendations on USDA or any other federal government policy.”

“This review confirms that what occurs inside USDA does not resemble what anyone else would consider ‘scientific integrity,’” stated Jeff Ruch, Executive Director of PEER which is suing USDA for its refusal to even consider a rulemaking petition seeking to strengthen the agency’s Scientific Integrity Policy. “Inside USDA, politics determines what scientific work will see the light of day.”

http://www.peer.org/news/news-releases/usda-justifies-scientific-suppression-as-its-policy.html

[world wide wally]

1. So, here we are in the 21st century pontificating on the virtues of stupidity and a dysfunctional

government in the name of politics.
What could go wrong?

[2naSalit]

2. This has been known for quite some time

but rarely gets much notice what with all the latest movies, rap tunes, apps and emogies. I've worked with PEER in the past and I would support their findings on nearly every issue, one of the more important watchdogs of public policy and protection of the "Commons".