'Political fraud': Trump orders review of National Academy of Sciences' 'bogus' climate guidance

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump on Sunday, July 19, ordered federal officials to review the conduct of the National Academy of Sciences, alleging that its climate change guidance provided to the federal judiciary was "fraudulent, biased, and misleading."

In a lengthy post on Truth Social, Trump claimed the manuals had been relied upon by judges in major climate-related litigation and argued they should no longer receive taxpayer support. The directive comes months after the federal judiciary removed a climate science chapter from its scientific reference manual following criticism from Republican state attorneys general.

Trump claims National Academy of Sciences published 'biased' climate manuals under Democrats

Trump criticized the National Academy of Sciences, accusing the organization of producing climate guidance that influenced federal court rulings. "The National Academy of Sciences has historically published analytical Scientific Manuals expressly for our Federal Judiciary," Trump wrote.

He alleged that the manuals were politically motivated: "Of course, the Academy has been run by Radical Left Dumocrats who, it turns out, published fraudulent, biased, and misleading Manuals on Climate Change."

Trump claimed judges relied on the guidance while deciding climate-related lawsuits. "These bogus Manuals were used by Judges to decide massive 'Climate Change' Cases, and have created huge losses across our Country." Calling the materials "totally DISCREDITED," Trump announced that federal suspension and debarment officials would examine the matter.

"Our Nation's Federal Judges deserve Facts and Science, not Political Fraud and False Science on Climate. With this truth, I hereby order Federal Suspension and Debarment Officials to review this conduct."

He also argued that taxpayer money should not support what he described as "Climate Fraud." The White House did not immediately provide additional details about the scope of the review or specify what conduct would be examined. 

Trump's order follows judiciary's removal of climate science chapter

Trump's announcement follows developments earlier this year involving the Federal Judicial Center (FJC), the research arm of the federal judiciary.

The FJC jointly publishes the Reference Manual on Scientific Evidence with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. The manual is intended to help federal judges evaluate scientific testimony presented in court.

The fourth edition of the Federal Judicial Center's scientific reference manual, released in December, included a new chapter on climate science that the center said was intended to help judges evaluate expert testimony and documentary evidence in climate-related cases. 

However, the judiciary withdrew the chapter after Republican attorneys general argued it was biased against fossil fuel companies. Trump's comments also come days after he renewed criticism of Canada over wildfire smoke affecting parts of the US.

While attending the FIFA World Cup final, Trump said he confronted Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney over the issue, saying, "You've got to stop these fires from coming in and poisoning our air," and suggested Canada could face tariffs or other financial consequences over the recurring smoke.