In this letter dated August 19, 2024, multiple leading organizations representing American research institutions and scientists urge the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), specifically its Office of Research, Technology and Economic Security (RTES), to actively collaborate with the broader research community before finalizing new risk matrices intended to manage research security in extramural research. The signatories emphasize the need for a balanced approach that protects national security interests without unnecessarily hindering open scientific collaboration, warning that overly broad or rapidly implemented security policies could undermine U.S. scientific progress and international partnerships. They cite examples of stakeholder engagement by other federal agencies, such as DARPA and the Department of Defense, which conducted listening sessions and pilot programs before instituting similar measures, resulting in smoother implementation and greater acceptance.
The organizations express concern that RTES is proceeding to publish its proposed security review processes without adequate opportunity for public comment or in-depth input from key stakeholders, which could lead to ineffective or poorly adopted policies. They call on DOE to follow the precedent of other agencies by seeking comprehensive feedback and piloting the new policies, thereby ensuring both national security and the vitality of U.S. scientific research. The letter concludes with an offer for further dialogue and a call for transparent, risk-based security reviews that are consistently applied across federal funding agencies.
