Trump's 5 Most Anti-Science Moves

[Rollo]

Trump's 5 Most “Anti-Science” Moves

The president-elect has taken what is widely seen as a hostile stance toward the scientific community. Here’s why

Scientists are hoarding data on global temperatures, in case President-elect Donald Trump tries to wipe it off government Web sites or block public access to it. Ahead of Trump’s inauguration the U.S. Department of Energy (DoE) has released stricter guidelines to protect scientists from government interference, and for many it feels like that safety net could not have come soon enough.

Welcome to what many call Trump’s post-fact presidency. Studies and evidence do not seem to sway him, but climate change remains a stubborn thorn in his side. Apparently determined to portray scientific conclusions as liberal bias, even declaring climate change a Chinese conspiracy, he has tapped climate science deniers for roles intended to protect the environment. He has consulted with an anti-vaccine activist on the safety of vaccinations, and he has alarmed the scientific community by attempting to single out individual climate change experts. Here are five of the major moves many see as hostile toward science—and as sobering indicators of the world the scientific community could be facing after January 20:

Trump’s pick for head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has actively battled its mission...
He chose former Texas Gov. Rick Perry for Energy Secretary...
He chose an energy company executive for secretary of State...
He met with a vaccine critic while planning a commission on autism...
His transition team sought information about Energy Department staff associated with climate change...