Today, like everyone around the world, we are watching the coronavirus pandemic unfold and affect millions of lives. We don’t yet know how this is all going to play out, but as numbers of cases escalate in every state, we have been witnessing significant problems with the federal response. Scientists, from epidemiologists to public health experts, are being sidelined in favor of messaging. Fundamental institutions that should be equipped to help society manage the situation are unprepared as a result of decades of neglect and recent hostility to government and science. This at a time when science and governance matter a great deal. Read more about the importance of science and governance here.