Very early in the COVID pandemic, a group of doctors assembles on the steps of the Supreme Court of the United States.

Calling themselves “America’s Frontline Doctors”, the group found their fifteen minutes of pandemic fame.

All have the title of “Doctor”.

All are wearing the symbol of medical respect – a starched white coat.

And where are they standing? On the steps of the ultimate symbol of authority in our nation.

None in the group were epidemiologists, infectious disease doctors, or researchers. 

With evangelistic fervor, the group touted COVID advice ranging from unsubstantiated cures to quack conspiracies. 

The group spoke with the trappings of authority, but not with expertise. 

The United States government manages trillions of dollars earmarked for scientific research. Historically, panels of content-area science experts decided which research proposals to fund.

In an unprecedented move, the White House now seeks to remove experts from the panels and replace them with political appointees. 

Russell Voight, chairman of the OMB (and architect of Project 2025), justifies the move because he wants to rid us all of “woke”. 

Instead of grants being decided by vigorous peer review, political appointees will make political decisions based on … politics. 

“Having grants pass a political litmus test will destroy science,” says Nobel laureate Martin Chalfie.

In less than two years, American science has been decimated. Research defunded. Career scientists leaving. Newly minted researchers moving to other countries.

And now this: a move to replace science experts with political appointees.

Authority is not expertise.