We are deeply troubled by this week’s events surrounding the Environmental Protection Agency’s censoring of scientists slated to speak about the health of Narragansett Bay on 23 October. For the EPA to send political officials from Washington to review the scientists’ work and then to prohibit those scientists from speaking about their research is unacceptable. Such political meddling and censorship in a free society is chilling, as it obstructs the open discourse and debate required for scientific progress and for an informed electorate. Such blatant interference in the communication of scientific research should concern all Americans, as it undermines attempts to understand the state of our nation’s natural resources and hampers scientists’ search for solutions to the real issues facing our aquatic ecosystems that are so critical to well-being of all Americans and to the well-being of future generations.