Trump orders review of federal judges’ science guide, criticizing climate change section as ‘politicized’
President Donald Trump has ordered a review of a long-standing scientific reference manual used by federal judges, arguing that the publication has become politicized and improperly influenced decisions involving environmental issues.
Trump said he directed federal suspension and debarment officials to examine the National Academy of Sciences’ “Reference Manual on Scientific Evidence,” a decades-old guide created to help judges evaluate complex scientific and technological matters.
The president criticized the manual’s climate change section, calling it discredited and claiming it promoted what he described as biased and misleading information. He argued that the handbook had been used in climate-related lawsuits and contributed to what he called harmful legal decisions.
The latest edition of the manual, released last year, included a chapter explaining climate science, including topics such as greenhouse gases, feedback loops and ecological tipping points. It also discussed how scientific evidence is evaluated, including peer-reviewed research and expert consensus.
The Federal Judicial Center later removed the climate science chapter from its version of the guide after Republican state attorneys general raised concerns that the material was politically motivated and unfairly favored climate-related lawsuits against energy companies.
The Republican officials also criticized references to diversity, equity and inclusion principles within the manual and questioned the backgrounds of some contributors who had previously participated in climate litigation.
Trump said the handbook represented “false science” and claimed judges had relied on politically motivated material when considering major climate cases. He did not identify specific court decisions that he believed were affected by the guide.
It remains unclear whether Trump’s directive will result in changes to the manual, a new edition, or any action against those involved in producing it.
The scientific reference manual, first published in 1994, covers a wide range of subjects including DNA evidence, medical testimony, engineering, epidemiology and artificial intelligence. It is developed with input from researchers, academics and federal judges, including Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan, who contributed to the most recent edition.
Kagan wrote that the guide helps judges make more informed decisions by providing a reliable source of scientific information, noting that judges often handle cases involving technical subjects outside their areas of expertise.
The federal judiciary has not yet commented on Trump’s call for a review.
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