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Because they're scientific instruments to collect data

Specifically climate data, which can be used to argue for climate change action.

As the old joke went, the easiest way to not have detected covid cases in the country is to stop testing. Very simple, very effective.

Not an actual joke, this was Trump's idea during his first term.

And not old... literally only 6 years ago.

Another one was when the popular perception was that Obama did more drone strikes than Trump did.

In fact, Trump had authorised more than Obama did. Trump had just stopped the reporting of the drone strikes.