The new Trump administration is delivering huge changes in the way the federal government operates. One expected result is for the conduct of science programs to reflect realism rather than idealism or political beliefs. This expectation needs to be fulfilled quickly to improve the public’s perception of, confidence in, and acceptance of government policies that must be based on solid scientific foundations. Public trust in government edicts that are ostensibly science-based has sunk to new lows, and the regulated have become leery of the regulators for good reason. 

In the coming weeks, leading the charge for better, uncensored scientific practice hopefully will be Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, President Donald Trump’s choice for National Institutes of Health director. Bhattacharya was one of the many advocates for more sensible and compassionate directives during the COVID-19 outbreak as expressed in the Great Barrington Declaration. This October 2020 declaration now has more than 940,000 signatures and expresses “grave concerns about the damaging physical and mental health impacts of the prevailing COVID-19 policies.” The declaration urges an approach called “focused protection.”