Trump Criticizes Federal Judges’ Reference Manual, Citing Climate Change Bias
In a move that has stirred debate, President Donald Trump has questioned the impartiality of a key reference manual used by federal judges to tackle complex scientific topics. His claim that the handbook has been “totally discredited” has sparked a review of its content, particularly concerning climate change.
President Trump took to his social media platform, Truth Social, to announce his directive to “federal suspension and debarment officials” to scrutinize the National Academy of Sciences’ “Reference Manual on Scientific Evidence.” This manual, a collaborative effort with the Federal Judicial Center, is intended to guide judges through intricate scientific and technological issues.
Referring to revisions in the manual’s climate change section, Trump alleged that the National Academy has been influenced by “Radical Left” Democrats, accusing them of disseminating “fraudulent, biased and misleading manuals on climate change.”
The handbook’s latest edition, released last year, contained a chapter on climate science, explaining the mechanics of climate change and detailing sources of climate research. However, this section was removed from the Federal Judicial Center’s version in February, following criticism from Republican state attorneys general. They argued that the handbook provided a “highly biased, agenda-driven view” that favored climate change advocates and targeted oil and gas sectors.
In their communication to Congress, these attorneys general also expressed concerns over the manual’s “diversity, equity and inclusion principles.” Trump’s comments on Sunday echoed these sentiments, stating that the manuals led to judicial decisions that resulted in “huge losses across our country.”
The president did not reference specific cases impacted by the handbook but maintained that taxpayer funding should not support what he termed “climate fraud.” The White House has yet to comment on whether a formal review of the manual has been initiated or if any revisions or actions against its authors are forthcoming.
A House Judiciary Committee spokesperson linked the manual to Republican oversight efforts, suggesting it was part of broader attempts by climate advocates to sway judicial outcomes in favor of climate-related litigants.
Clara Altman, deputy director of the Federal Judicial Center, clarified that the Center’s edition of the manual, distributed to federal judges, excludes the climate science chapter. She stated, “Earlier this year, shortly after the fourth edition was released online, the Center responded to criticisms about the climate science chapter by omitting the chapter from its version of the RMSE.”
Since its inception in 1994, the judiciary’s scientific handbook has covered diverse topics from DNA identification to artificial intelligence. Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan, a contributor to the latest edition, emphasized in her foreword to the 2025 version that the manual aids in reaching “better and fairer” legal decisions by serving as a “dispassionate guide” for judges who are typically generalists.
Original Story at missoulacurrent.com