Cass R. Sunstein, Columnist

Biden’s Day 1 Assignment: Order the Government to Follow Science

Imagine a White House decree that says, “Political officials should not suppress or alter scientific or technological findings and conclusions.” And means it.

September 8, 2020 at 1:00 PM UTC

By Cass R. Sunstein

Cass R. Sunstein is a former Bloomberg Opinion columnist. He is the author of “The Cost-Benefit Revolution” and a co-author of “Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth and Happiness.”

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Photographer: Ariana Drehsler/AFP via Getty Images

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Imagine, if you would, that it is Jan. 21, 2021, and that Joe Biden is president of the United States. The nation awaits his first executive order — a formal presidential decree, binding on the executive branch, that directs departments and agencies what to do.

At 9 a.m., the executive order appears. Its name? “Scientific Integrity.”