Understanding Implications of the White House’s “Gold Standard Science” Executive Order

Last week, President Trump signed the executive order “Restoring Gold Standard Science,” aimed at overhauling how federal agencies conduct, interpret, and apply scientific research.

The order defines “Gold Standard Science” as research that is:

• Reproducible;

• Transparent;

• Communicative of error and uncertainty;

• Collaborative and interdisciplinary;

• Skeptical of its findings and assumptions;

• Structured for falsifiability of hypotheses;

• Subject to unbiased peer review;

• Accepting of negative results as positive outcomes; and

• Without conflicts of interest.

The executive order directs the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) to issue agency-wide guidance within 30 days, with agencies required to update their scientific integrity policies accordingly. It also mandates that agencies publicly share data, models, and methodologies used in policymaking, barring national security or privacy concerns.

This order is a direct response to what the Trump Administration views as the politicization of science under the previous administration. The fact sheet cites specific examples, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s COVID-19 school reopening guidance.

Beyond the federal agencies reforming how they produce and communicate science, the executive order will have widespread implications for stakeholders outside of the federal government. Researchers within academia may experience increased scrutiny of federally funded research and advocacy groups may face new challenges in areas like environmental and public health policy reliant on older research.

Agencies have a 30-day window to align with OSTP guidance and a 60-day period to report on implementation progress. The administration has signaled that this is part of a broader effort to restore public trust in science and ensure that policymaking is grounded in rigorous, unbiased research. Stakeholders across sectors should closely monitor the implementation of this directive and prepare for its wide-ranging implications.