New accusations of manipulating scientific information and gagging government scientists have arisen amidst the government's consideration of listing polar bears as an endangered species. Memos that censored scientists traveling to countries around the Arctic region and draft reports that were significantly altered in their final form have fueled these concerns. A leaked

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a proposal that revised its criteria for determining whether scientific advisory committee members have financial conflicts of interest. The guidance, which would be nonbinding if adopted, is in its draft form and will be open for comment upon publication in the Federal Register. The guidance simplifies FDA's process for determining financial conflicts of interest. It also details exceptions agency personnel can make to allow scientists with conflicts of interest to serve on panels. The proposal comes as FDA faces increasing scrutiny over its ties to the pharmaceutical industry.

A new Data Quality Act (DQA) lawsuit was filed Feb. 22 in a federal court in California. The suit claims that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are disseminating false and misleading information regarding the health benefits of marijuana. The lawsuit is another test of the judicial reviewability of DQA, which enables groups and members of the public to challenge the data quality of federal government information.

Congressional Democrats are stepping up their oversight of the Bush administration. Several of the steps Congress has taken, or is likely to take soon, have implications for the federal government's regulatory policy. One recent oversight hearing reflected concerns over scientific integrity within the White House. The impetus for two other hearings, and one potential hearing, is concern over the Bush administration's failure to enforce laws passed by Congress.