While science that can lead directly to profit making opportunities is privatized, science that is perceived to harm corporate and elite interests is attacked and defunded. Since the neoliberal counter-revolution, there has been a sustained and directed attack at scientific regulatory agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from corporate interest and their right-wing allies in government. The current well-publicized attacks of the Trump administration on climate scientists have strong precedent in the campaigns of big tobacco, fast food, and energy companies. This relentless attack on the institutions and scientific content is funded by powerful corporate interests whose profits are threatened by regulatory science. These attacks are becoming more brazen and open. For example, despite the fact that the EPA accounts for less than 0.8% of the Federal budget, the Trump administration has repeatedly called for cutting the EPA and appointed industry lobbyist to regulatory agencies. The independence of government scientists is curbed and they are punished for sharing scientific discoveries.
