Considering recent directives by the current administration of the United States government concerning manuscripts under review at scientific journals, the CSE Editorial Policy Committee highlights our recommendations concerning the following topics: anonymous authorship, editorial freedom, removal of author name from byline, retractions/corrections, and withdrawals of submitted manuscripts before publication.

The full CSE Recommendations for Promoting Integrity in Scientific Journal Publications are available at https://www.councilscienceeditors.org/recommendations-for-promoting-integrity-in-scientific-journal-publications.¹

Anonymous Authorship

Because authorship should be transparent and requires public accountability, it is not appropriate to use pseudonyms or to publish scientific reports anonymously. In extremely rare cases, when the author can make a credible claim that attaching their name to the document could cause serious hardship (e.g., threat to personal safety or loss of employment), a journal editor may decide to publish anonymous content. Other categories of authorship that may be acceptable in certain circumstances include group authorship and the inclusion of deceased or incapacitated authors. (Section 2.2.2)

Editor Responsibilities and Editorial Freedom

Editors have the responsibility to inform and educate readers. Making clear and rational editorial decisions will ensure the best selection of content that contributes to the body of scientific knowledge. (Section 2.1)

An editor essentially is responsible for what appears in their journal. To establish and maintain high-quality journal content, an editor should, prior to accepting a position, receive an explicit written statement from the journal’s owner that defines the editor’s responsibilities and autonomy. Regardless of the scientific field, editors should be given full responsibility for editorial decisions on individual manuscripts.  (Section 2.1.1)

Changes to Author Byline

Any changes the authors wish to make to the author byline after the initial submission of a manuscript should be made in writing and the document should be signed by all authors, including those being added or removed. The new author list should be stated directly along with a justification for the change. (Section 2.2.5)

Correcting the Literature

The following definitions of Retractions and Corrections from the CSE Recommendations outline many of the reasons for correcting the scientific literature. Requests for retractions or corrections for reasons that fall outside these definitions should be thoroughly considered by an editor to ensure that the request will improve the quality of the scientific literature:

Retractions

Retractions identify an article that was previously published and is now retracted through a formal issuance from the author, editor, publisher, or other authorized agent. Retractions refer to an article in its entirety that is the result of a pervasive error, nonreproducible research, scientific misconduct, or duplicate publication. (Section 3.5)

Corrections

For a variety of reasons, correcting the literature is a critical part of the research enterprise. First, it addresses unreliable information that is part of the public record. Second, corrections enable the researcher to identify and use correct information, thereby saving time and resources. Third, corrections enhance a journal’s reputation for taking a proactive role in publishing accurate information for its readership. The need for corrections may originate from an error or from misconduct. (Section 3.5)

Withdrawal of submitted manuscripts before publication

As stated in recent guidance from the ICMJE, whom we agree with, “While not explicitly stated in the ICMJE recommendations, all coauthors should be aware of and agree with the decision to withdraw a manuscript.” (2)

Conclusion

The recent U.S. government directives concerning manuscripts under review at scientific journals bring forth significant ethical considerations. We hope the CSE recommendations offer valuable clarity on these matters. The Council of Science Editors will continue to collaborate with partner organizations, such as COPE and ICMJE, to engage with members and provide ongoing guidance.

1. Council of Science Editors. Recommendations for Promoting Integrity in Scientific Journal Publications. Council of Science Editors. https://www.councilscienceeditors.org/recommendations-for-promoting-integrity-in-scientific-journal-publications. Accessed February 20, 2025.
2. International Committee of Medical Journal Editors. ICMJE Guidance Notice. ICMJE. https://www.icmje.org/news-and-editorials/icmje_guidance_notice.html. Published February 2025. Accessed February 20, 2025.

Opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of their employers.