Scientific integrity: HHS agencies need to develop procedures and train staff on reporting and addressing political interference : report to congressional addressees
- Collection:
- Health Policy and Services Research
- Alternate Title(s):
- HHS agencies need to develop procedures and train staff on reporting and addressing political interference: report to congressional addressees
- Contributor(s):
- United States. Government Accountability Office, issuing body. United States. Congress, issuing body.
- Publication:
- Washington, DC : United States Government Accountability Office, April 2022
- Language(s):
- English
- Format:
- Text
- Subject(s):
- Ethics, Institutional Government Regulation Policy Making Scientific Misconduct -- legislation & jurisprudence Staff Development -- legislation & jurisprudence United States United States. Department of Health and Human Services
- Genre(s):
- Technical Report
- Abstract:
- Why GAO did this study. Since 2007, Congress and multiple administrations have taken actions to help ensure that federal science agencies have scientific integrity policies and procedures in place that, among other things, protect against the suppression or alteration of scientific findings for political purposes. GAO defined scientific integrity as the use of scientific evidence and data to make policy decisions that are based on established scientific methods and processes, are not inappropriately influenced by political considerations, and are shared with the public when appropriate. GAO was asked to review scientific integrity policies and procedures, and how allegations of political interference in scientific decision-making are addressed at CDC, FDA, NIH, and ASPR. This report examines the procedures in place to address such allegations and the extent to which agencies received them. It also examines training provided by selected agencies on scientific integrity policies and procedures, including those related to political interference. GAO analyzed the agencies’ scientific integrity policies, procedures, and trainings; interviewed agency officials, and employees, which includes managers and non-managers; and deployed a confidential hotline. What GAO Recommends. GAO is making seven recommendations to CDC, FDA, NIH, and HHS, including that they develop procedures for reporting and addressing allegations of political interference and train staff on how to report such allegations. HHS concurred with the recommendations.
- Copyright:
- The National Library of Medicine believes this item to be in the public domain. (More information)
- Extent:
- 1 online resource (1 PDF file (ii, 32 pages))
- Illustrations:
- Illustrations
- NLM Unique ID:
- 9918434588006676 (See catalog record)
- Permanent Link:
- http://resource.nlm.nih.gov/9918434588006676