Policy Update (13 May 2025)

As a reminder, the “skinny” President’s Budget Request (PBR) was released on Friday, 2 May 2025. It proposed massive cuts to science agencies and programs, including the NASA Science Mission Directorate, National Science Foundation (NSF), National Institute of Standards & Technology, and the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science (SC). Some House members have already voiced concerns over cuts to DOE SC. A more detailed budget request is expected next month. On Thursday, 8 May 2025, reports emerged that NSF is being directed to abolish all 37 divisions. As a result, the number of programs within each division will be reduced, and layoff notices are expected. Mr. Isaacman’s nomination to be NASA Administrator has passed out of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee by a vote of 19-9. It is unclear when there will be a vote by the full Senate. For more information, see: 

• The “Skinny” President’s Budget Request for FY2026 (AAS) 
• House Republicans voice concern over DOE nuclear, research cuts (Roll Call) 
• Exclusive: NSF faces radical shake-up as officials abolish its 37 divisions (Science) 
• Isaacman nomination clears Senate commerce committee (SpacePolicyOnline) 

Congress has a lot of work ahead of them as they try to agree on their reconciliation package. Speaker Mike Johnson wants to pass the package out of the House in two weeks and have it on the president’s desk by 4 July. Initial versions of the bill show major overhauls to taxes, Medicaid, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The bill also directs the Department of Commerce and the Federal Communications Commission to auction off 600 megahertz of spectrum. For more details, please check out “What you need to know about reconciliation” (Punchbowl). 

In response to the PBR, the AAS initiated a Week of Action urging members to advocate for science. We asked members to call, email, schedule congressional meetings, host an advocacy event/journal club, and consider writing an op-ed about the importance of science. Over 2,500 emails were sent during our Week of Action alone. Since January, over 2,300 people have advocated for science using our portals. Thank you to those who took action. If you haven’t already, consider getting involved today using our action alerts here. 

The AAS is also soliciting information about any canceled or suspended grants here. Please fill out our form if you have had any federal grants canceled or suspended. This information helps our advocacy on the Hill and gives us a better understanding of how recent events are impacting our members..  

On Wednesday, 7 May 2025, the Solar Physics Division travelled to DC to convey the importance of heliophysics funding for national security and our STEM workforce. On Thursday and Friday of last week, the Division for Planetary Sciences (DPS) Federal Relations Subcommittee also came to DC to hold meetings with member offices and congressional committee staff about the importance of science funding for our country. 

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