Since January, the Trump administration has laid off thousands of scientists and staff and cut research funding for those who remain across the federal government. At the same time, department heads at different agencies—from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration—directed scientists to halt much of the research on climate change and its ripple effects on U.S. residents, lands and seas.

This summer, staff members from at least two agencies were put on leave after speaking out against these moves. Some were subsequently fired.

Paired with those aggressive pullbacks in federal funding for research, the administration has cultivated a widespread fear of retribution in the U.S. scientific community, one that jeopardizes free speech, ex

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