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Our reading
The National Academy of Sciences has been acting as a political advocate beyond its mandate.
Their wordsThe scandal is that the NASEM has been acting well beyond this mandate as a political advocate - trading on its authority and legitimacy to serve special interests, whether those are of its non-governmental funders, those charged with executing its projects, or its leaders.
Their wordsIn 2026 there is not much that distinguishes the storied National Academy of Sciences from the myriad partisan NGOs advocating for everything under the sun - like the Union of Concerned Scientists or The Heartland Institute. The NASEM has become just another 501 (c)(3) organization pushing an agenda.
Their wordsMuch reform is needed, but an important and straightforward first step would be for Congress to amend the Federal Charter for the NAS to prohibit funding from non-governmental organizations and require that all studies be requested by federal agencies or Congressional committees.
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