{"id":363447,"date":"2025-01-26T09:13:35","date_gmt":"2025-01-26T08:13:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=363447"},"modified":"2025-01-26T09:13:36","modified_gmt":"2025-01-26T08:13:36","slug":"the-tide-of-accountability-is-finally-rolling-in","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=363447","title":{"rendered":"The Tide of Accountability is Finally Rolling In"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From Watts Up With That?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

By Charles Rotter<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"
https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/d41586-025-00231-y<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

What a spectacle! As the Trump administration reclaims the reins of power, the scientific elite are reacting with utter dismay to policies that prioritize accountability, budgetary discipline, and a reevaluation of priorities. Judging by the tone of despair emanating from recent articles, you\u2019d think the very foundation of science had crumbled underfoot. But make no mistake\u2014this isn\u2019t the death of science; it\u2019s the birth of overdue reform.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

In an unprecedented move, research-grant reviews have been suspended indefinitely at the world\u2019s largest public funder of biomedical research.<\/strong>

https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/d41586-025-00231-y<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Both\u00a0Nature<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Science<\/a>\u00a0magazine lament the \u201cunprecedented\u201d decisions to halt NIH grant-review meetings, travel, and non-emergency communications. A chorus of voices within the research community describes these measures as \u201cdevastating,\u201d \u201cunfair,\u201d and even a \u201ccataclysm.\u201d What\u2019s actually happening? The Trump administration is simply pressing the pause button to evaluate how $47 billions of taxpayer money is being spent by the NIH\u200b\u200b.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gone are the days of unchecked spending and ideological pet projects masquerading as science. The NIH\u2019s controversial diversity initiatives, which critics argue prioritize optics over merit, have disappeared from the agency\u2019s website overnight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Diversity goals<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Adding to the uncertainty among researchers, the Trump administration also seems to have erased all materials relating to structural racism and diversity from the NIH website. The NIH has been criticized by the research community over the years<\/a> for a lack of racial and ethnic diversity in those who win grants from the agency \u2014 critiques that are \u201cwarranted\u201d and urgent as the United States and its scientists become more diverse, Varmus says.

https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/d41586-025-00231-y<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Predictably, this move has sparked outrage, with some scientists claiming the reforms threaten inclusivity and progress. Yet, one can\u2019t help but notice the silence around the persistent lack of genuine innovation and results in key areas of medical research\u200b\u200b.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Take, for example, the complaint about canceled travel and study panels. It\u2019s as if presenting at conferences has become the end-all-be-all of scientific progress. What\u2019s lost in these protests is any reflection on whether these gatherings provide real value to taxpayers or whether the grants being reviewed are delivering measurable benefits. The administration is asking the NIH to justify itself\u2014an entirely reasonable request when tens of billions of dollars are on the line\u200b.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Early-career researchers bemoan potential disruptions to their paths, but perhaps it\u2019s time for the scientific establishment to reexamine how it supports young talent. Are these systems producing independent, innovative thinkers, or merely training another generation to perpetuate the same tired, ineffective paradigms? If reforms spark a reevaluation of this broken cycle, all the better\u200b.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At its core, the uproar over these changes reveals an entrenched resistance to reform. Instead of introspection, the scientific community has opted for indignation. The reality is that hard-nosed accountability is long overdue. Taxpayers deserve transparency, measurable outcomes, and funding decisions rooted in merit\u2014not ideological favoritism or bureaucratic inertia. For those panicking about their travel plans or pet projects, the message is clear: adapt or step aside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Science is not under attack; it\u2019s being rescued\u2014from itself.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

What a spectacle! As the Trump administration reclaims the reins of power, the scientific elite are reacting with utter dismay to policies that prioritize accountability, budgetary discipline, and a reevaluation of priorities. Judging by the tone of despair emanating from recent articles, you\u2019d think the very foundation of science had crumbled underfoot. But make no mistake\u2014this isn\u2019t the death of science; it\u2019s the birth of overdue reform.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":121246920,"featured_media":363452,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","_crdt_document":"","advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1],"tags":[691832863,691818426,691825043,691832864,691831504],"class_list":{"0":"post-363447","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","6":"hentry","7":"category-uncategorized","8":"tag-nih","9":"tag-science","10":"tag-taxpayer-money","11":"tag-transparency","12":"tag-trump-administration","14":"fallback-thumbnail"},"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/0Back-to-the-Future-2-SMS-2019-f9f40b8c2b.jpg?fit=1772%2C1048&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/paxLW1-1wy3","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":419541,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=419541","url_meta":{"origin":363447,"position":0},"title":"The Trump Administration\u2019s Fight to Fund Scientists","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"02\/01\/2026","format":false,"excerpt":"The Trump Administration\u2019s Fight To Fund Scientists is a December 2025 investigative article by Paul D. Thacker. The piece argues that the Trump administration's efforts to reform federal research funding\u2014particularly by capping indirect costs (overhead rates) in NIH grants\u2014aim to redirect more money from university administrators to actual scientists conducting\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"European Commission\"","block_context":{"text":"European Commission","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=european-commission"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/ChatGPT-Image-28.-Mai-2025-09_53_37.png?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/ChatGPT-Image-28.-Mai-2025-09_53_37.png?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/ChatGPT-Image-28.-Mai-2025-09_53_37.png?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/ChatGPT-Image-28.-Mai-2025-09_53_37.png?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/ChatGPT-Image-28.-Mai-2025-09_53_37.png?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":429187,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=429187","url_meta":{"origin":363447,"position":1},"title":"Trump Is right: Science demands we overturn the \u2018Endangerment Finding\u2019","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"02\/03\/2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Science is on the side of the Trump administration\u2019s efforts to unwind the U.S. from costly climate regulations\u2014much to the consternation of major media platforms that peddle unfounded, politically motivated assertions.","rel":"","context":"In \"carbon dioxide (CO\u2082)\"","block_context":{"text":"carbon dioxide (CO\u2082)","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=carbon-dioxide-co%e2%82%82"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0Trump-Zeldin-Endangerment-repeal.png?fit=1200%2C804&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0Trump-Zeldin-Endangerment-repeal.png?fit=1200%2C804&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0Trump-Zeldin-Endangerment-repeal.png?fit=1200%2C804&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0Trump-Zeldin-Endangerment-repeal.png?fit=1200%2C804&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0Trump-Zeldin-Endangerment-repeal.png?fit=1200%2C804&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":423653,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=423653","url_meta":{"origin":363447,"position":2},"title":"No, New York Times, Trump Cannot Cause Bad Weather","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"28\/01\/2026","format":false,"excerpt":"The New York Times\u00a0article, \u201cUnder Trump, U.S. Adds Fuel to a Heating Planet,\u201d claims that President Donald Trump\u2019s policies and actions will result in higher carbon dioxide emissions, causing more droughts, floods, hurricanes, and other extreme weather.","rel":"","context":"In \"carbon dioxide (CO\u2082)\"","block_context":{"text":"carbon dioxide (CO\u2082)","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=carbon-dioxide-co%e2%82%82"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/AQNlSsNOVYjW2xgb5t_L95bEiTdeqfGu-EueCRnw01tvwWGamASWAysi1YGny8OlsgMU7TWXdhEUBvEfIl4P4XrTvWlGFCHCFAztlXVg4oawA22LWePzDSV7bzClDx_J.jpeg?fit=1200%2C600&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/AQNlSsNOVYjW2xgb5t_L95bEiTdeqfGu-EueCRnw01tvwWGamASWAysi1YGny8OlsgMU7TWXdhEUBvEfIl4P4XrTvWlGFCHCFAztlXVg4oawA22LWePzDSV7bzClDx_J.jpeg?fit=1200%2C600&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/AQNlSsNOVYjW2xgb5t_L95bEiTdeqfGu-EueCRnw01tvwWGamASWAysi1YGny8OlsgMU7TWXdhEUBvEfIl4P4XrTvWlGFCHCFAztlXVg4oawA22LWePzDSV7bzClDx_J.jpeg?fit=1200%2C600&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/AQNlSsNOVYjW2xgb5t_L95bEiTdeqfGu-EueCRnw01tvwWGamASWAysi1YGny8OlsgMU7TWXdhEUBvEfIl4P4XrTvWlGFCHCFAztlXVg4oawA22LWePzDSV7bzClDx_J.jpeg?fit=1200%2C600&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/AQNlSsNOVYjW2xgb5t_L95bEiTdeqfGu-EueCRnw01tvwWGamASWAysi1YGny8OlsgMU7TWXdhEUBvEfIl4P4XrTvWlGFCHCFAztlXVg4oawA22LWePzDSV7bzClDx_J.jpeg?fit=1200%2C600&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":435145,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=435145","url_meta":{"origin":363447,"position":3},"title":"Despite the Liberal Media\u2019s Insistence, Americans Must Judge \u2018Experts\u2019 With Caution","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"29\/03\/2026","format":false,"excerpt":"From Watts Up With That? By\u00a0Gary Abernathy This article was orginally published at\u00a0The Empowerment Alliance\u00a0and is re-published here with permission.\u00a0 Pronouncements from President Trump describing his actions are almost always countered by the far-left media with something along the lines of, \u201cBut experts say\u2026,\u201d followed by high-minded, eggheaded lecture from\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"Climate Central (CC)\"","block_context":{"text":"Climate Central (CC)","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=climate-central-cc"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0-Despite-the-Liberal-Medias-Insistence-Americans-Must-Judge-%E2%80%98Experts-With-Caution.jpg?fit=784%2C1168&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0-Despite-the-Liberal-Medias-Insistence-Americans-Must-Judge-%E2%80%98Experts-With-Caution.jpg?fit=784%2C1168&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0-Despite-the-Liberal-Medias-Insistence-Americans-Must-Judge-%E2%80%98Experts-With-Caution.jpg?fit=784%2C1168&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0-Despite-the-Liberal-Medias-Insistence-Americans-Must-Judge-%E2%80%98Experts-With-Caution.jpg?fit=784%2C1168&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":418627,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=418627","url_meta":{"origin":363447,"position":4},"title":"STEVE MILLOY: Trump Dismantles Climate-Industrial Complex","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"25\/12\/2025","format":false,"excerpt":"The Trump administration took a major whack at the climate-industrial complex this week. It\u2019s a fantastic move. But another event this week spotlights the need to do more.","rel":"","context":"In \"Arctic Report Card\"","block_context":{"text":"Arctic Report Card","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=arctic-report-card"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AQNBTfx55Ow_jpmTNKgUxfQSEYXgbcK5VAn19b2Nfffn59buOdsd5X9GyKUXuZHJWksBkdH-JMc1Nlst90D67pDRJYw4xDCAO0n_5fpEzHz3TF0YyrmuPwVwlwgeRUvb-1.jpeg?fit=1200%2C625&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AQNBTfx55Ow_jpmTNKgUxfQSEYXgbcK5VAn19b2Nfffn59buOdsd5X9GyKUXuZHJWksBkdH-JMc1Nlst90D67pDRJYw4xDCAO0n_5fpEzHz3TF0YyrmuPwVwlwgeRUvb-1.jpeg?fit=1200%2C625&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AQNBTfx55Ow_jpmTNKgUxfQSEYXgbcK5VAn19b2Nfffn59buOdsd5X9GyKUXuZHJWksBkdH-JMc1Nlst90D67pDRJYw4xDCAO0n_5fpEzHz3TF0YyrmuPwVwlwgeRUvb-1.jpeg?fit=1200%2C625&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AQNBTfx55Ow_jpmTNKgUxfQSEYXgbcK5VAn19b2Nfffn59buOdsd5X9GyKUXuZHJWksBkdH-JMc1Nlst90D67pDRJYw4xDCAO0n_5fpEzHz3TF0YyrmuPwVwlwgeRUvb-1.jpeg?fit=1200%2C625&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AQNBTfx55Ow_jpmTNKgUxfQSEYXgbcK5VAn19b2Nfffn59buOdsd5X9GyKUXuZHJWksBkdH-JMc1Nlst90D67pDRJYw4xDCAO0n_5fpEzHz3TF0YyrmuPwVwlwgeRUvb-1.jpeg?fit=1200%2C625&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":418003,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=418003","url_meta":{"origin":363447,"position":5},"title":"Don\u2019t Throw Out the Supercomputer with the Climate Models","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"20\/12\/2025","format":false,"excerpt":"If you listen carefully to the collective wailing coming out of Boulder, Colorado this week, you\u2019d think the Trump administration had just announced plans to shut down the National Weather Service and replace Doppler radar with tea leaves.","rel":"","context":"In \"Climate models\"","block_context":{"text":"Climate models","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=climate-models"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AQNBTfx55Ow_jpmTNKgUxfQSEYXgbcK5VAn19b2Nfffn59buOdsd5X9GyKUXuZHJWksBkdH-JMc1Nlst90D67pDRJYw4xDCAO0n_5fpEzHz3TF0YyrmuPwVwlwgeRUvb.jpeg?fit=1200%2C625&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AQNBTfx55Ow_jpmTNKgUxfQSEYXgbcK5VAn19b2Nfffn59buOdsd5X9GyKUXuZHJWksBkdH-JMc1Nlst90D67pDRJYw4xDCAO0n_5fpEzHz3TF0YyrmuPwVwlwgeRUvb.jpeg?fit=1200%2C625&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AQNBTfx55Ow_jpmTNKgUxfQSEYXgbcK5VAn19b2Nfffn59buOdsd5X9GyKUXuZHJWksBkdH-JMc1Nlst90D67pDRJYw4xDCAO0n_5fpEzHz3TF0YyrmuPwVwlwgeRUvb.jpeg?fit=1200%2C625&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AQNBTfx55Ow_jpmTNKgUxfQSEYXgbcK5VAn19b2Nfffn59buOdsd5X9GyKUXuZHJWksBkdH-JMc1Nlst90D67pDRJYw4xDCAO0n_5fpEzHz3TF0YyrmuPwVwlwgeRUvb.jpeg?fit=1200%2C625&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AQNBTfx55Ow_jpmTNKgUxfQSEYXgbcK5VAn19b2Nfffn59buOdsd5X9GyKUXuZHJWksBkdH-JMc1Nlst90D67pDRJYw4xDCAO0n_5fpEzHz3TF0YyrmuPwVwlwgeRUvb.jpeg?fit=1200%2C625&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/363447","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/121246920"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=363447"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/363447\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":363453,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/363447\/revisions\/363453"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/363452"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=363447"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=363447"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=363447"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}