Executive Order 14303

Restoring Gold Standard Science

Signed May 23, 2025, printed at 90 FR 22601. 8 sections of substance, 2,555 words.

In plain English

This order sets rules for how agencies use science. It says findings must be open to review.

Sec. 1. Policy and Purpose

Over the last 5 years, confidence that scientists act in the best interests of the public has fallen significantly. A majority of researchers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics believe science is facing a reproducibility crisis. The falsification of data by leading researchers has led to high-profile retractions of federally funded research. Unfortunately, the Federal Government has contributed to this loss of trust. In several notable cases, executive departments and agencies (agencies) have used or promoted scientific information in a highly misleading manner. For example, under the prior Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued COVID-19 guidance on reopening schools that incorporated edits by the American Federation of Teachers and was understood to discourage in-person learning. This guidance's restrictive and burdensome reopening

In plain English

This sets out the case the order makes. It says trust in scientists has fallen. It says many researchers see a repeatability crisis. It says faked data has led to retractions. It says agencies have used science in misleading ways. It cites school reopening guidance during COVID.

Sec. 2. Definitions

For the purposes of this order: (a) ``Employee'' has the meaning given that term in 5 U.S.C. 2105. (b) ``Scientific information'' means factual inputs, data, models, analyses, technical information, or scientific assessments related to such disciplines as the behavioral and social sciences, public health and medical sciences, life and earth sciences, engineering, physical sciences, or probability and statistics. This includes any communication or representation of knowledge such as facts or data, in any medium or form, including textual, numerical, graphic, cartographic, narrative, or audiovisual forms. (c) ``Scientific misconduct'' means fabrication, falsification, or plagiarism in proposing, performing, reviewing, or reporting the results of scientific research, but does not include honest error or differences of opinion. For the purposes of this definition: (i) ``fabrication'' is

In plain English

This defines the terms. Employee has its meaning in federal law. Science data covers facts, models and study. It spans health, earth science and math. It covers any form, from charts to video. Misconduct means faking or copying work. An honest error is not misconduct.

Sec. 3. Restoring Gold Standard Science

(a) Within 30 days of the date of this order, the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP Director) shall, in consultation with the heads of relevant agencies, issue guidance for agencies on implementation of ``Gold Standard Science'' in the conduct and management of their respective scientific activities. For the purposes of this order, Gold Standard Science means science conducted in a manner that is: (i) reproducible; (ii) transparent; (iii) communicative of error and uncertainty; (iv) collaborative and interdisciplinary; (v) skeptical of its findings and assumptions; (vi) structured for falsifiability of hypotheses; (vii) subject to unbiased peer review; (viii) accepting of negative results as positive outcomes; and (ix) without conflicts of interest. (b) Upon publication of the guidance prescribed in subsection (a), each agency head, as necessary and

In plain English

This calls for guidance in 30 days. A science office must issue it. It defines what it calls gold standard science. That work must be repeatable and open. It must state its own error and doubt. It must invite skepticism and unbiased review. It must be free of conflicts.

Sec. 4. Improving the Use, Interpretation, and Communication of Scientific Data

No later than 30 days after the date of this order, agency heads and employees shall adhere to the following rules governing the use, interpretation, and communication of scientific data, unless otherwise provided by law: (a) Employees shall not engage in scientific misconduct nor knowingly rely on information resulting from scientific misconduct. (b) Except as prohibited by law, and consistent with relevant policies that protect national security or sensitive personal or confidential business information, agency heads shall in a timely manner and, to the extent practicable and within the agency's authority: (i) subject to paragraph (ii), make publicly available the following information within the agency's possession: (A) the data, analyses, and conclusions associated with scientific and technological information produced or used by the agency that the agency reasonably assesses will

In plain English

This sets rules for staff. They must not fake or falsify data. They must not lean on work that was faked. Agencies must publish data and conclusions where they can. National security and private data are protected. Personal information is protected too.

Sec. 5. Interim Scientific Integrity Policies

(a) Until the issuance of updated agency scientific integrity policies pursuant to section 3 of this order, and except where required by law: (i) scientific integrity policies in each agency shall be governed by the scientific integrity policies that existed within the executive branch on January 19, 2021, except that in the event of a conflict between such policies and the policies and requirements of this order, the policies and requirements of this order control; and (ii) agency heads shall take all necessary actions to reevaluate and, where necessary, revise or rescind scientific integrity policies or procedures, or amendments to such policies or procedures, issued between January 20, 2021, and January 20, 2025. (iii) each agency head shall promptly revoke any organizational or operational changes, designations, or documents that were issued or enacted pursuant to the Presidential

In plain English

This sets the interim rule. Agencies fall back to the policies of January 2021. This order wins where they clash. Policies issued from 2021 to 2025 must be reviewed. Some must be revised or dropped. Changes made under an earlier memo must be revoked.

Sec. 6. Scope and Applicability

(a) The policies and rules set forth in this order apply to all employees involved in the generation, use, interpretation, or communication of scientific information, regardless of job classification, and to all agency decision-making, except where precluded by law. (b) Agency heads and employees shall, to the extent practicable and consistent with applicable law, require agency contractors to adhere to these policies and rules as though they were agency employees. (c) The policies and rules set forth in this order govern the use of science that informs agency decisions but they are not applicable to non-scientific aspects of agency decision-making.

In plain English

This says who is covered. It reaches every worker who handles science data. Job title does not matter. It covers all agency decisions. Contractors should follow it as if they were staff. It governs the science behind a decision. It does not govern other parts of that decision.

Sec. 7. Enforcement and Oversight

(a) Each agency head shall establish internal processes to evaluate alleged violations of the requirements of this order and other applicable agency policies governing the generation, use, interpretation, and communication of scientific information. Such processes shall be the responsibility, and administered under the direction, of a senior appointee designated by the agency head and shall provide for taking appropriate measures to correct scientific information in response to violations, consistent with the requirements and procedures of section 515 of the statute [[Page 22605]] commonly known as the Information Quality Act, Public Law 106-554, appendix C (114 Stat. 2763A-153). The designated senior appointee may also forward potential violations to the relevant human resources officials for discipline to the extent the potential violation also violates applicable agency policies and

In plain English

This is about enforcement. Each agency must set up a review. A senior aide runs it. False science must be put right. A federal law on data quality sets that route. Cases may also go to staff bosses. That holds where agency rules were broken too.

Sec. 8. Waivers

(a) An agency head may request in writing that the OMB Director, in consultation with the OSTP Director, waive any of the requirements of this order for good cause shown. Such request must explain how the requested waiver is consistent with the policies and purposes of this order. (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this order, the policies and requirements of this order shall apply to agency actions that pertain to foreign or military affairs, or to a national security or homeland security function of the United States, only to the extent that the applicable agency head, in his or her sole and exclusive discretion, determines they should apply.

In plain English

This is about waivers. An agency head may ask to be let off. The request goes to the budget office in writing. A science office advises on it. The request must explain how it fits the order. Defense and border work is covered only if the agency head chooses.

Sec. 9. General Provisions

Every order carries this. It is not what the order does.

(a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect: (i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or (ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals. (b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations. (c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person. [[Page 22606]] (d) The Office of Management and Budget shall provide funding for publication of this order in the Federal Register. <GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT> (Presidential Sig.) THE

In plain English

This is the closing clause that nearly every order carries. It says the order does not change what the law already allows. It also says no one can sue to enforce it.

How this order is quoted

Each section is quoted as the order prints it, under its own number and heading. Executive orders are United States government works and are not under copyright. Long sections are cut at a sentence and the whole order is a click away.