Obama’s Energy Department Moves To Stop Political Attacks On Scientists

"President Obama promised to end political interference with government science. But it’s taken until the eve of the Trump administration for the Department of Energy to get in line."

"Days ahead of the Trump Administration taking power, the US Department of Energy released long-demanded rules on Wednesday to protect its scientists from political harassment. The change was announced today by outgoing energy secretary Ernest Moniz, speaking at the National Press Club in Washington DC.

“DOE officials should not and will not ask scientists to tailor their work to any particular conclusion,” Moniz said.

Until now, the $30 billion Energy Department — which is the biggest US government funder of research in the physical sciences — has lagged in implementing President Barack Obama’s 2009 pledge to ensure that political appointees “should not suppress or alter scientific or technological findings and conclusions.”"

Peter Aldhous reports for BuzzFeed January 11, 2017.