US science takes a bitter record

*Die US-Wissenschaft zieht eine erschütternde Bilanz von sechs Monaten Trump. *

Six months of Trump - for science in the US, this means that its influence is constantly being further curtailed.

Researchers from the "Union of Concerned Scientists" have now published a half-year report. The title speaks volumes: "A cold spot of science right from the first day". One of the authors is the environmental engineer Gretchen Goldman. She told in the German radio that the government was doing everything to keep science out of political decision-making, even in the case of health risks. Thus, the new head of the environmental agency EPA refuses to ban a specific plant protection product, although it is shown that it affects the brain development of children.

In addition, positions in ministries and authorities would be filled with specialists: in the Agrarministerium, one of President Trumps's election campaigns was responsible for research. But he denies climate change.

EPA's chief executive, Pruitt, recently released a number of independent scientists from an advisory body of the agency - and announced that they would do so at other committees.