Gold Standard Science at HHS

In May 2025, President Trump issued Executive Order 14303, Restoring Gold Standard Science, to ensure federal agencies conduct scientific activities in a manner that is:

• Reproducible.
• Transparent.
• Communicative of error and uncertainty.
• Collaborative and interdisciplinary.
• Skeptical of its findings and assumptions.
• Structured for falsifiability of hypotheses.
• Subject to unbiased peer review.
• Accepting of negative results as positive outcomes.
• Without conflicts of interest.

These nine tenets of Gold Standard Science safeguard the credibility of Federal research and scientific endeavors. HHS is dedicated to upholding the tenets of Gold Standard Science in all aspects of its scientific activities, programs, and policies. You can read more details about the tenets in guidance from the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP).

HHS Gold Standard Science Report

The HHS Gold Standard Science Report highlights HHS policies, programs, and activities that support the Gold Standard Science tenets. HHS uses a variety of strategies to promote the nine tenets, such as:

• Data management policies to promote reproducibility.
• Innovative program designs to promote constructive skepticism.
• Robust research practices to promote the use of falsifiable hypotheses.

To implement Gold Standard Science, HHS and its divisions:

• Train staff on scientific integrity, responsible conduct of research, and ethics.
• Will assess adherence to the nine tenets.
• Incorporate advanced technology where appropriate.
• Review and update policies, practices, and trainings.

Read the HHS Gold Standard Science Report, 2025.

Related Content