Scientists attending AGU25 can meet with CSLDF attorneys for free, 30-minute, one-on-one legal consultations. Join us to discuss issues such as First Amendment matters, employment concerns, strategies for safeguarding online communications from adverse interests, or any other legal questions or concerns.
2024 Year in Review
During this truly extraordinary year, we have been busier than ever.
Protecting the Scientific Endeavor
Science Under Siege
The Climate Science Legal Defense Fund has fought for the scientific endeavor since 2011. Our initiatives ensure that scientists can conduct, publish, and discuss their research and advocate for science without the threat of political harassment, censorship, or legal intimidation.
2025 Impact Report
We are fighting back against the flood of anti-climate and anti-science actions.
Climate Litigation Toolkit
Our free legal resources explain the best practices for safely and effectively engaging in climate litigation and other scientific consulting work.
Updated Report: Open Records Laws
These laws, while critical to government transparency, are frequently misused by groups seeking to harass scientists and slow or halt the scientific endeavor. This report can help scientists and attorneys respond to such inquiries.
Political Action Toolkit
Our free legal resources explain the best practices for safely and effectively engaging in political advocacy.
Join Our Mailing List
Our Work
We provide free legal aid and resources to researchers, educate the scientific community about their rights and responsibilities, and strengthen legal protections to promote scientific integrity.
Silencing Science Tracker
The Silencing Science Tracker is a public database that tracks government efforts to restrict, censor, undermine, and misrepresent science since the November 2016 election. To date, we have documented more than 600 attacks on science. We catalog government efforts to restrict, censor, undermine, and misrepresent science.
Safeguarding Scientific Integrity
We promote scientific integrity reforms to ensure the best available research and data inform government decision-making. And we publish resources to advance understanding of how research institutions and federal agencies approach scientific integrity — and how to strengthen legal protections for science and scientists.
Latest Resources and Activities
What could go wrong? In Trump’s second term, he has intensified attacks on science by bringing extreme ideologues into the…
As the government shutdown begins, federal scientists are surely wondering how it will affect their work and employment. Typically, a…
Scientists: Know Your Rights
The legal risks for any individual scientist are small, but there are actions you can take to protect and defend yourself, especially if you’re involved in scientific advocacy and activism.
Our Expertise in the News
-
Press | Podcast When Climate Work Comes at a Cost: Dispatches From the Upside DownNovember 7, 2025 Climate One
“Climate” has become almost a taboo realm... And YET - There are many real-life heroes who are still finding ways to keep their critical work alive.
-
Press | News Tips for resisting the anti-science lurchNovember 5, 2025 Financial Times
When Virginia Burkett was targeted by political appointees during President Trump’s first term for her climate and land use research at the US Geological Survey, she fought back.
-
Press | News Review: A Billion Butterflies by Jagadish ShuklaOctober 29, 2025 Hindustan Times
So widespread has been the harassment against scientists that an organisation was set up to counter it: the Climate Science Legal Defense Fund.
Take a Stand for Science
Your support helps us fight for scientists and defend scientific integrity.