National Academy of Sciences Withdraws Controversial Climate Chapter from Judicial Guide

The National Academy of Sciences announced it is retracting the climate science portion of the fourth edition of the Reference Manual on Scientific Evidence, a tool meant to aid federal judges. The decision follows allegations that the chapter relied on sources tied to left-wing climate advocates, a claim first highlighted by one outlet. Although the Academy emphasized that the review focuses on the chapter’s creation procedures rather than the science, it has removed the content from its website while one outlet's review proceeds.

The controversy has been referenced in a recent Senate subcommittee hearing that featured Justices Amy Coney Barrett and Elena Kagan, the latter of whom wrote the manual’s foreword but said she had not read the disputed chapter. Conservative legal groups are urging the Senate Judiciary Committee to examine Kagan’s involvement for potential conflicts of interest. President Donald Trump also weighed in, labeling the guide “biased” and ordering a review of related federal grants. The episode underscores ongoing tensions over how scientific evidence is presented in the courts.