President Trump's recent efforts to silence scientists on social media by imposing a gag order on administrations like the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA,) have already started to backfire. While Trump may have temporarily quieted several official accounts, his actions have inspired a digital rebellion across Twitter, and an army of mysterious accounts in the science, education, security communities and more — identifying as "resistance teams" — are banding together to fight for the right to share factual information. Though it remains unclear who is running these rogue accounts or whether they actually have an affiliation to government organizations, administrations such as NASA, the Federal Drug Administration (FDA,) the U.S. National Weather Service, National Institutes of Health (NIH,) EPA and the USDA are "unofficially" being represented. Following Monday's requests that EPA employees no longer post social media updates and orders for USDA's main research branch to cease communication with the public, (that have now been rescinded,) National Park Service Twitter accounts were the first to take action. There are now at least 14 "rogue" Twitter accounts from federal science agencies:https://t.co/WOq4Hc5yd1 pic.twitter.com/BpARmzY0xN — Eric Holthaus (@EricHolthaus) January 25, 2017 With the goal to aid in the sharing of "peer-reviewed, evidence-based research" outside the confines of Donald Trump's government limitations, @RogueNasa — an unofficial resistance team for America's space agency — became one of the most popular rogue accounts to join the online movement. Though the account hasn't even been active for 48 hours, it's already gained an impressive 451,000 followers. #resist — Rogue NASA (@RogueNASA) January 25, 2017 While most accounts, like @RogueNOAA, represent administrations that Trump has not yet placed restrictions on, it seems they are fighting for their freedom of speech in solidarity and trying to get ahead of anticipated future regulations. Though this online expression of truth is commendable, scientists aren't stopping the fight there. Inspired by last week's Women's Marches around the world, they've decided to organize a March for Science to protest to ensure their voices are heard. To follow the spread of the Trump Twitter resistance, check out the Twitter List "Twistance 2," which includes alternate Homeland Security, Department of Education and more.
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President Trump’s recent efforts to silence scientists on social media by imposing a gag order on administrations like the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA,) have already started to backfire.
While Trump may have temporarily quieted several official accounts, his actions have inspired a digital rebellion across Twitter, and an army of mysterious accounts in the science, education, security communities and more — identifying as “resistance teams” — are banding together to fight for the right to share factual information.
Though it remains unclear who is running these rogue accounts or whether they actually have an affiliation to government organizations, administrations such as NASA, the Federal Drug Administration (FDA,) the U.S. National Weather Service, National Institutes of Health (NIH,) EPA and the USDA are “unofficially” being represented.
Following Monday’s requests that EPA employees no longer post social media updates and orders for USDA’s main research branch to cease communication with the public, (that have now been rescinded,) National Park Service Twitter accounts were the first to take action.
On behalf of the USDA, the Twitter account for Badlands National Park in South Dakota started a public discussion on climate…
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