POLITICS

Washington: Trump orders review of National Academy climate guidance

▪

Read, Watch or Listen

In Washington, President Donald Trump has directed federal suspension and debarment officials to conduct a comprehensive review of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS), focusing on its role in producing the Fourth Edition of the "Reference Manual on Scientific Evidence." Announced on his Truth Social platform, the order targets what the administration calls "fraudulent, biased and misleading" climate-related content intended for federal judges. The manual, jointly produced with the Federal Judicial Center and the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, is a longstanding judicial resource. Its latest edition, released late last year, added a substantial new chapter explaining climate science for use in complex environmental litigation.

Prepared by Lauren Mitchell and reviewed by editorial team.

Timeline of Events

1994: First judicial scientific evidence manual published
2009: Previous edition of reference manual released
Late last year: Fourth Edition manual published
Late last year: New climate science chapter introduced
Earlier this year: Manual begins guiding federal judges
Recently: Trump criticizes climate guidance publicly
Today: Trump orders NAS federal review
Next months: Federal officials assess possible debarment

Why This Matters to You

This review could impact how climate science is used in court. It might affect environmental lawsuits and regulations. If you're concerned about climate change, keep an eye on the review's outcome.

The Bottom Line

President Trump's order targets a key judicial resource. It's unclear how this will affect future environmental rulings. Officials haven't confirmed that yet. Stay informed and consider discussing this with your local representatives. Worth forwarding if you know someone interested in environmental policy.