Having withdrawn from his reelection bid and acknowledged the possibility that former President Donald Trump may succeed him, President Joe Biden has worked with Democrats and his federal agencies to lock in a legacy that won’t be easy for Trump to erase. From pumping out regulations to insulating government scientists to enshrining foreign policy commitments, the Biden administration is leaving behind policies that will be procedurally difficult or politically costly to abandon. In this series, the Washington Examiner will take a look at how Biden is Trump-proofing parts of the government. Part One will look at his effort to “Trump-proof” science.

President Joe Biden isn’t on the November ballot, but his administration has been working overtime to “Trump-proof” science before his exit, putting protections in place to shield government scientists from political interference should former President Donald Trump win another White House term.