# Trump and Republicans Criticize Climate Guide for Judges Educational material on climate science sparks political controversy. - **Source:** [NYT > Science](https://brifing.si/source/794f9fbd-c10f-44d6-932d-9039af67922c) - **Published:** 2026-07-20 - **Topic:** [Business](https://brifing.si/c/business) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/a506a7af-318d-4e56-8409-5a5b057174e1 ## Origin of the Controversy A chapter on climate science in an educational manual for judges, prepared by the National Academies of Sciences, drew sharp criticism from Trump and Republican officials. The guide aimed to explain the scientific basis of climate change. ## Political Backlash Former President Trump labeled the guide as an attempt to 'mislead the judiciary.' GOP officials similarly questioned the academy's neutrality in their statements about the controversial material. ## Guide's Content The disputed section summarizes scientific evidence, impacts, and legal implications of climate change. Experts emphasize the manual was designed to help judges understand complex climate-related cases. ## Academy's Defense The National Academies stated the guide is based solely on scientific data without political bias. The institution stressed that judicial education on technical matters is vital for democracy. ## Sectoral Implications This debate directly connects to energy sector regulations. With increasing climate litigation, judges' need for expertise in this field becomes more critical. ## Broader Impacts The incident reignited tensions between scientific institutions and political actors. Long-term, it will require establishing standards for similar educational materials and judicial training. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/20/climate/climate-change-manual-national-academy-science.html — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._