Today, House Committee on Natural Resources Ranking Member Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) and House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology Ranking Member Frank Lucas (R-Okla.) sent a letter to the White House requesting the documents and communications necessary to conduct oversight of the administration’s response to scientific integrity violations by a senior White House science advisor. In part, the members wrote:

"Although Dr. Lubchenco stated her regret for her actions, the Administration continues to move forward implementing the scientific integrity policies she played a key role in developing, and Dr. Lubchenco continues to lead federal science policy efforts and represent the United States on the international stage, despite being barred from participating in the activities of a renowned scientific organization...

"We are especially concerned about the leadership and culture of the OSTP after former Director Eric Lander resigned following a White House investigation that found 'credible evidence of violations of the [Executive Office of the President’s] Safe and Respectful Workplace Policy' as well as bullying and disrespectful interactions with staff. The leadership of the OSTP should be models of behavior for the entire federal research enterprise, not appear to receive special treatment or be held to less strict standards than every other federal employee."

Background

The National Academies of Sciences (NAS) recently sanctioned Dr. Jane Lubchenco for violating clear and well-known scientific integrity principles while serving as an editor for the Proceedings for the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. These violations are particularly troubling given Lubchenco’s role as Deputy Director for Climate and Environment at the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), as well as one of the heads of an interagency task force on scientific integrity at the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC). In that role, she led the development and publication of a report on Protecting the Integrity of Government Science, intended to guide best practices at government science agencies.

In addition to violating scientific integrity principles in her publishing decisions, Lubchenco has cited the same research in congressional testimony before the Natural Resources Committee and used it to justify policy recommendations. 

Science Committee Republicans first raised the issue of Lubchenco’s violations in a letter sent in February, where they asked the president to reconsider her role developing scientific integrity guidelines. The administration took no action in response to Lubchenco’s violations or the congressional oversight request. 

Lucas and Westerman are now requesting all administration documents and communications relating to Lubchenco’s compromised research work and violations of scientific integrity.