Reawakening Scientific Policy of the Early Trump Era in the Interior Department

Science-related actions initiated, driven by an executive order signed by President Donald Trump in May.

Reawakening Scientific Policy of the Early Trump Era in the Interior Department

The Interior Department has taken a significant step towards transparency and accountability with the resurrection of its "Promoting Open Science" policy, as announced on Thursday by Secretary Doug Burgum.

In his statement, Burgum reiterated the department's commitment to upholding the principles of transparency, integrity, and accountability. This move aims to ensure that government decisions are based on open, honest, and verifiable science, thereby protecting taxpayers and strengthening American innovation.

The new standard, which was originally introduced in 2018 during the Biden administration, has seen some changes reversed under Burgum's leadership. The goal is to restore the American people's trust in the Interior Department and its scientific processes.

The order to implement this policy was signed by Secretary Burgum on Aug 29. This decision follows a similar trend among other federal agencies, who are currently revising their science policies in line with the direction of the White House's Office of Science and Technology.

President Trump has been leading the charge to eliminate politicized ideology from scientific processes, emphasizing the importance of open and honest science in shaping national policies.

Notably, Burgum succeeds Deb Haaland as Secretary of the Interior. The department's actions underscore a renewed focus on putting national interests first and upholding the principles of open science.

The Interior Department's revival of its "Promoting Open Science" policy is a step towards ensuring that government decisions are based on the best available scientific evidence, fostering a culture of transparency and accountability within the department.