https://science.sciencemag.org/content/early/2020/09/11/science.abe7391
Over the years, this page has commented on the scientific
foibles of U.S. presidents. Inadequate action on climate change and
environmental degradation during both Republican and Democratic
administrations have been criticized frequently. Editorials have
bemoaned endorsements by presidents on teaching intelligent design,
creationism, and other antiscience in public schools. These matters are
still important. But now, a U.S. president has deliberately lied about
science in a way that was imminently dangerous to human health and
directly led to widespread deaths of Americans.
This may be the most shameful moment in the history of U.S. science policy.
It also meant silencing health officials who tried to tell
the truth. On 25 February, Nancy Messonnier, director of the National
Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (of the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention), said, “It’s not so much a question of
if this will happen anymore, but rather more a question of exactly when
this will happen and how many people in this country will have severe
illness.” She was right and Trump knew it. But he shut her down. He also
tried to control messaging from Anthony Fauci, the nation’s foremost
leader on infectious diseases. Trump’s supporters insisted that Fauci
and Messonnier were not being muzzled, but now we have clear evidence in
emails that they were.
