Commerce Department Removes Political Interference Ban From Scientific Integrity Policy

September 2, 2026 at 12:00 PM2 min

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The U.S. Department of Commerce removed language banning political interference from its scientific integrity policy in an unannounced Aug. 19 update. The change affects research and data from the Census Bureau, NOAA, and the Bureau of Economic Analysis. It also extends to external grant competitions, raising concerns about politicization of federally funded research.

Key Facts

The Department of Commerce removed language banning political interference from its scientific integrity policy in an update dated Aug. 19.
The change affects research and data from the Census Bureau, NOAA, and the Bureau of Economic Analysis.
The prior policy version, released in January 2025, included protection from inappropriate influence and independent review of scientific activities.
The updated policy references Executive Order 14303: Restoring Gold Standard Science, the same order cited in OMB's proposal to overhaul federal grant rules.
Sarah Spreitzer of the American Council on Education said the change appears to be a further effort to implement proposed grant rule changes before finalization.

Policy Change Details

The Department of Commerce removed key language about suppressing, delaying, or altering findings for political purposes from its scientific integrity policy. The prior version, released in January 2025, stated that protection from inappropriate influence was among the hallmarks of scientific integrity. The new version omits language on independent review of facilities, methodologies, and other scientific activities. The policy update was unannounced and first reported by NPR.

Affected Agencies and Grants

The change raises questions about the reliability of reports from the Census Bureau, NOAA, and the Bureau of Economic Analysis. The policy also extends to external grant competitions run by the department. Sarah Spreitzer, vice president of government relations at the American Council on Education, said the change adds to concerns about politicizing federal grant-making and federally funded research.

Executive Order Connection

The updated policy states it is issued in accordance with Executive Order 14303: Restoring Gold Standard Science. The same executive order was referenced in the Office of Management and Budget's proposal to overhaul federal grant rules and give political appointees more power in awarding grants. Spreitzer said the change appears to be a further effort by the administration and OMB to move forward with implementing proposed changes before the rule is finalized.