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Fifth U.S. Open Government National Action Plan
Commitment Tracker

Commitment:

Scientific Integrity and Evidence-Based Policymaking

Full Commitment Text OGP Commitment Page

Progress for this commitment is tracked based on the following sub-commitment(s). You can also view the full text of this commitment.

US0132.1	The Biden-Harris Administration issued a Presidential Memorandum establishing a Task Force on Scientific Integrity as part of the National Science and Technology Council. The Federal Government commits to continuing implementation of this Presidential Memorandum, including by supporting Federal agencies as they revise and implement respective policies on the scientific process.
Agency & Subagency	Executive Office of the President Office of Science and Technology Policy
Sub-Commitment Status	In Progress
February 2024 Progress	Progress Update: Following the January 2023 release of the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) Framework for Federal Scientific Integrity Policy and Practice, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) has been working with federal agencies to update or develop their scientific integrity policies to align with the Framework. These activities have been coordinated through the NSTC Subcommittee on Scientific Integrity (SOSI). OSTP and SOSI have also worked to create opportunities to engage the research community and the public on efforts to strengthen federal scientific integrity policies and practices. The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), on behalf of the federal agencies and departments participating SOSI, held two public listening sessions to hear from members of the public about recommendations, issues and concerns related to Federal department and agency implementation of the NSTC Framework for Federal Scientific Integrity Policy and Practice. In addition, agencies like the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Social Security Administration (SSA) have issued Requests for Information on their draft policies. OSTP released its first Scientific Integrity Policy in June 2023, modeled after the Framework. Evidence: NSTC Subcommittee on Scientific Integrity: https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/07-2022-SOSI-NSTC-Charter.pdf OSTP Scientific Integrity Policy: https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/OSTP-SCIENTIFIC-INTEGRITY-POLICY.pdf Public Listening session Link: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/09/05/2023-19094/notice-of-public-listening-sessions-on-federal-agency-implementation-of-the-national-science-and Request for Public Comment for HHS’s Draft Scientific Integrity Policy: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/07/20/2023-15408/request-for-comments-on-the-draft-hhs-scientific-integrity-policy Request for Public Comment for NIH’s Draft Scientific Integrity Policy: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/09/25/2023-20733/request-for-information-on-the-draft-scientific-integrity-policy-of-the-national-institutes-of Request for Public Comment for EPA’s Draft Scientific Integrity Policy: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/01/24/2024-01313/scientific-integrity-policy-draft-for-public-comment Request for Public Comment for SSA’s Draft Scientific Integrity Policy: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/01/25/2024-01494/request-for-information-on-social-security-scientific-integrity-policy Scientific Integrity page on Science.gov: https://www.science.gov/Scientific-Integrity.html
August 2023 Progress	In January 2023, the National Science and Technology Council released a Framework for Federal Scientific Integrity Policy and Practice, which advises agencies on establishing or strengthening scientific integrity policies and provides a framework for regular assessment and iterative improvement of policies and practices to advance and sustain the work of protecting Federal science and enabling Federal scientists (link below). https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/01-2023-Framework-for-Federal-Scientific-Integrity-Policy-and-Practice.pdf

US0132.2	In response to the Presidential Memorandum, the Office of Management and Budget released OMB M-21-27, which reaffirms and expands on previous guidance on Learning Agendas and Annual Evaluation Plans. It articulates that Federal agencies are expected to use evidence whenever possible to further both mission and operations, and to commit to build evidence where it is lacking. Agencies are also expected to meaningfully engage a diverse array of stakeholders to ensure they are asking the most relevant and urgent questions, and generating needed information that will be used.
Agency & Subagency	Executive Office of the President OMB Evidence Team
Sub-Commitment Status	In Progress
February 2024 Progress	Progress Update: Agency multi-year Learning Agendas and Fiscal Year (FY) 2022, 2023, and 2024 Agency Annual Evaluation Plans are posted on agency websites and linked centrally at Evaluation.gov, and the Learning Agenda Question Dashboard was enhanced to include crossagency learning agendas. Agency FY 2025 Annual Evaluation Plans will be posted in the spring of 2024. Evidence: OMB M-21-27: https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/M-21-27.pdf Agency Learning Agendas: https://www.evaluation.gov/evidence-plans/learning-agenda Agency Annual Evaluation Plans: https://www.evaluation.gov/evidence-plans/annual-evaluation-plan
August 2023 Progress	Agency Learning Agendas and Annual Evaluation Plans are posted on agency websites and linked centrally at Evaluation.gov. Agency Learning Agenda questions are categorized by topic and available for public users on a searchable Learning Agenda Question Dashboard (link below). https://www.evaluation.gov/learning-agenda-questions-dashboard/