Scientific integrity: HHS agencies need to develop procedures and train staff on reporting and addressing political interference : testimony before the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis, Committee on Oversight and Reform, House of Representatives

Scientific integrity: HHS agencies need to develop procedures and train staff on reporting and addressing political interference : testimony before the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis, Committee on Oversight and Reform, House of Representatives

Collection:
Health Policy and Services Research
Alternate Title(s):
HHS agencies need to develop procedures and train staff on reporting and addressing political interference: testimony before the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis, Committee on Oversight and Reform, House of Representatives
Contributor(s):
United States. Government Accountability Office, issuing body.
United States. Congress. House. Committee on Oversight and Reform. Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis, issuing body.
Publication:
Washington, DC : United States Government Accountability Office, April 29, 2022
Language(s):
English
Format:
Text
Subject(s):
Ethics, Institutional
Government Regulation
Scientific Misconduct -- legislation & jurisprudence
United States
United States. Department of Health and Human Services
Genre(s):
Technical Report
Abstract:
Chairman Clyburn, Ranking Member Scalise, and Members of the Subcommittee: I am pleased to be here today to discuss our April 2022 report on scientific integrity procedures and training at selected Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) agencies. To maintain public trust and credibility, safeguarding our nation’s public health agencies’ scientific decision-making from political interference is critically important. This is particularly true during a public health emergency such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Since 2007, Congress and multiple administrations have taken actions to help ensure that federal science agencies have policies and procedures in place that, among other things, protect against the suppression or alteration of scientific findings for political purposes. In 2019, we issued a report that broadly examined scientific integrity policies at nine agencies across the government. We made 10 recommendations to six agencies. They addressed specific issues related to educating staff, providing oversight, monitoring and evaluating scientific integrity policy implementation, and developing procedures to identify and address policy violations. The six agencies agreed with our recommendations. They are at various stages of implementing them, but much work remains to be done to assure the public of the integrity of federally funded science that informs policy decisions. Last week, we issued our first of two planned reports on scientific integrity at four agencies and offices within HHS. They have had key roles in conducting and supporting scientific research, communicating information to the public, evaluating the safety and effectiveness of medical products, and leading other aspects of the public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The four agencies are the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR). My comments today will summarize the key findings from this report. Specifically, I will discuss: 1. the procedures in place at the selected agencies to address allegations of political interference in scientific decision-making and the extent to which agencies received such allegations and 2. training provided by the selected agencies on scientific integrity policies and procedures, including those related to potential political interference.
Copyright:
The National Library of Medicine believes this item to be in the public domain. (More information)
Extent:
1 online resource (1 PDF file (7 pages))
NLM Unique ID:
9918434588406676 (See catalog record)
Permanent Link:
http://resource.nlm.nih.gov/9918434588406676