11 March 2009

[Federal Register: March 11, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 46)]
[Presidential Documents]               
[Page 10671-10672]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr11mr09-175]                         



                        Presidential Documents 




[[Page 10671]]


                Memorandum of March 9, 2009

 
                 Scientific Integrity

                Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and 
                Agencies

                Science and the scientific process must inform and 
                guide decisions of my Administration on a wide range of 
                issues, including improvement of public health, 
                protection of the environment, increased efficiency in 
                the use of energy and other resources, mitigation of 
                the threat of climate change, and protection of 
                national security.

                The public must be able to trust the science and 
                scientific process informing public policy decisions. 
                Political officials should not suppress or alter 
                scientific or technological findings and conclusions. 
                If scientific and technological information is 
                developed and used by the Federal Government, it should 
                ordinarily be made available to the public. To the 
                extent permitted by law, there should be transparency 
                in the preparation, identification, and use of 
                scientific and technological information in 
                policymaking. The selection of scientists and 
                technology professionals for positions in the executive 
                branch should be based on their scientific and 
                technological knowledge, credentials, experience, and 
                integrity.

                By this memorandum, I assign to the Director of the 
                Office of Science and Technology Policy (Director) the 
                responsibility for ensuring the highest level of 
                integrity in all aspects of the executive branch's 
                involvement with scientific and technological 
                processes. The Director shall confer, as appropriate, 
                with the heads of executive departments and agencies, 
                including the Office of Management and Budget and 
                offices and agencies within the Executive Office of the 
                President (collectively, the ``agencies''), and 
                recommend a plan to achieve that goal throughout the 
                executive branch.

                Specifically, I direct the following:

1. Within 120 days from the date of this memorandum, the Director shall 
develop recommendations for Presidential action designed to guarantee 
scientific integrity throughout the executive branch, based on the 
following principles:

(a) The selection and retention of candidates for science and technology 
positions in the executive branch should be based on the candidate's 
knowledge, credentials, experience, and integrity;

(b) Each agency should have appropriate rules and procedures to ensure the 
integrity of the scientific process within the agency;

(c) When scientific or technological information is considered in policy 
decisions, the information should be subject to well-established scientific 
processes, including peer review where appropriate, and each agency should 
appropriately and accurately reflect that information in complying with and 
applying relevant statutory standards;

(d) Except for information that is properly restricted from disclosure 
under procedures established in accordance with statute, regulation, 
Executive Order, or Presidential Memorandum, each agency should make 
available to the public the scientific or technological findings or 
conclusions considered or relied on in policy decisions;

(e) Each agency should have in place procedures to identify and address 
instances in which the scientific process or the integrity of scientific 
and technological information may be compromised; and

(f) Each agency should adopt such additional procedures, including any 
appropriate whistleblower protections, as are necessary to ensure

[[Page 10672]]

the integrity of scientific and technological information and processes on 
which the agency relies in its decisionmaking or otherwise uses or 
prepares.

2. Each agency shall make available any and all information deemed by the 
Director to be necessary to inform the Director in making recommendations 
to the President as requested by this memorandum. Each agency shall 
coordinate with the Director in the development of any interim procedures 
deemed necessary to ensure the integrity of scientific decisionmaking 
pending the Director's recommendations called for by this memorandum.

3. (a) Executive departments and agencies shall carry out the provisions of 
this memorandum to the extent permitted by law and consistent with their 
statutory and regulatory authorities and their enforcement mechanisms.

(b) Nothing in this memorandum shall be construed to impair or otherwise 
affect:

(i) authority granted by law to an executive department, agency, or the 
head thereof; or

(ii) functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget 
relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

(c) This memorandum is not intended to, and does not, create any right or 
benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity, by any 
party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, 
its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

4. The Director is hereby authorized and directed to publish this 
memorandum in the Federal Register.


                    (Presidential Sig.)

                THE WHITE HOUSE,

                    Washington, March 9, 2009

[FR Doc. E9-5443
Filed 3-10-09; 11:15 am]

Billing code 3170-W8-P