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Washington D.C. – The National Treasury Employees Union on Tuesday endorsed legislation to uphold and strengthen scientific integrity policies at federal agencies to guard against political or partisan interference into the work of government scientists.

The Scientific Integrity Act, H.R. 1709, is sponsored by Rep. Paul Tonko (D-NY) and passed the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology last month with strong bipartisan support.

NTEU National President Tony Reardon notified Tonko of the union’s support in a Tuesday letter.

“Federal scientists are highly trained experts in their fields and their work should not be subject to politically-based alterations,” Reardon wrote.

NTEU represents scientists, researchers, chemists, biologists and other professionals at the Environmental Protection Agency, Food and Drug Administration, Department of Energy, USDA Food and Nutrition Service, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and other federal agencies that rely on accurate scientific data and analysis to carry out their missions.

The legislation would require federal agencies that fund or direct public science to develop and enforce a scientific integrity policy that prevents political influence or special interests from interfering with the research or its publication.

NTEU represents 150,000 employees at 33 federal agencies and departments.