Impacted Members/Scientists: Request a membership waiver, seek meeting support, and other resources. Learn more. For the latest public policy updates, please visit this page.
Public Policy Updates
Since early 2025, the community has faced significant uncertainties regarding federal funding for astronomy and support for workforce development programs. This web page provides updates on the ongoing uncertainty and actions taken by the AAS in response (note that this is not a comprehensive list). AAS actions are italicized. We are aiming to update this page approximately every two weeks.
Some actions you can take include:
- Make Your Voice Heard: Take action to support the sciences by writing to your members of Congress through the AAS action alerts.
- Share Your Story with the AAS: Help us advocate for you by sharing how federal funding for sciences, or lack thereof, has impacted you.
- Meet with Your Members of Congress: We encourage you to set up in-district or Zoom meetings with your congressional offices. Please feel free to reach out to [email protected] for assistance with this matter.
May 2026
13 May: The House Appropriations Committee had a markup of the Fiscal Year 2027 House Commerce-Justice-Science bill.
12 May: The Fiscal Year 2027 House Commerce-Justice-Science report was released, following the bill that was released on 29 April.
12 May: AAS policy staff helped the Heliophysics Coalition with their day of Hill visits, where over 50+ members of the solar and space physics community met with their congressional offices to advocate for robust support for NASA Science, its Heliophysics Division, NSF, and NOAA in FY27.
11 May: AAS submitted a comment on a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking titled Spectrum Abundance for Weird Space Stuff, which considers telemetry, tracking and command (TT&C) spectrum access for emergent space operations.
1 May: AAS submitted a comment to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on a notice titled “Unleashing American Drone Dominance”.
April 2026
30 April: the House Commerce-Justice-Science Subcommittee (CJS) held a markup to consider the FY 2027 CJS bill, which was ultimately approved by the Subcommittee.
29 April: the House Commerce-Justice-Science (CJS) Subcommittee released their FY 2027 appropriations bill.
28 April: AAS President Dara Norman issued a statement regarding the National Science Board firings.
24 April: All 24 members of the National Science Board were terminated from their positions.
24 April: AAS sent a letter to the Energy-Water Subcommittees requesting robust support for the DOE Office of Science in FY 2027.
23 April: AAS sent a letter to the Commerce-Justice-Science Subcommittee requesting robust support for NASA’s SMD, NSF, and NIST in FY 2027.
16 April: AAS sent a letter to House and Senate Appropriations Committee leadership requesting robust support for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, NSF, and the DOE Office of Science in FY 2027.
13-15 April: AAS and American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) Congressional Visits Day event.
13 April: AAS submitted a comment to the Federal Communications Commission in response to an application filing by Starcloud to launch and operate 88,000 data centers in low Earth orbit.
9 April: AAS released two action alerts urging House members to sign letters in support of NSF and NASA Science.
3 April: The Trump Administration released its Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) President’s Budget Request (PBR). See our breakdown for more information.
March 2026
30 March: AAS submitted a response to the General Services Administration proposed rulemaking.
30 March: AAS responded to Reflect Orbital’s consolidated response to the multiple petitions to deny their US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) application.
26 March: The Trump Administration released a new Executive Order (EO) titled “Addressing DEI Discrimination by Federal Contractors.”
23 March: AAS submitted a response to SpaceX’s consolidated response to petitions from multiple organizations.
16 March: AAS released an action alert urging House members to sign letters in support of DOE Office of Science.
13 March: AAS submitted a response to the NSF Dear Colleague letter titled NSF Intent to Restructure Critical Weather Infrastructure.
9 March: AAS released two action alerts urging House members to sign letters in support of NSF and NASA Science.
9 March: AAS signed onto a mulit-organization comment in response to Reflect Orbital’s filing that voiced concerns related to wildlife and human health, as well as astronomy.
9 March: AAS submitted a petition to deny Reflect Orbital’s application to launch Earendil-1, their first demonstration satellite designed to reflect sunlight towards the ground with an 18 x 18 m reflector.
6 March: AAS submitted a petition to deny SpaceX’s application to the FCC to operate a new satellite constellation of one million data centers.
4 March: The NASA Authorization Act of 2026 passed out of the Senate Commerce Committee. You can read about selected highlights of the bill on the committee’s press release page here.
February 2026
20 February: Rep. Foushee and 24 other members of Congress sent a letter to Michael Kratsios, Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, and David Sacks, Special Advisor for AI and Crypto in the White House, that calls for increased transparency and commitment to STEM education and research and development.
18 February: AAS submitted a public reply comment to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regarding the use of upper microwave spectrum.
18 February: AAS submitted a public reply comment to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regarding the proposed overhaul of the satellite licensing process.
17 February: AAS submitted a letter to NSF MPS Directorate and Astro Section leadership on the importance of workforce development programs for the scientific community.
11 February: AAS released an action alert and instruction guide for providing input to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on proposed satellite systems.
9 February: AAS submitted a comment to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regarding a proposed change to the agency's information collection activities.
4 February: AAS submitted a letter to Senate Commerce Committee leadership regarding concerns over the Satellite and Telecommunications Streamlining Act.
4 February: The House Science Committee marked up the NASA Reauthorization Act of 2026.
3 February: AAS submitted a public reply comment to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regarding the use of upper C-band spectrum.
January 2026
23 January: The President signs three-bill (Commerce-Justice-Science, Energy-Water, Interior-Environment) minibus into law.
20 January: AAS submitted a public comment to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regarding the proposed overhaul of the satellite licensing process.
16 January: NASA Planetary Science Division (PSD) Director, Louise Prockter, distributed a letter stating that NASA will no longer formally support the PSD’s Analysis and Assessment Groups (‘AGs’) after April 2026.
15 January: AAS submitted feedback to the Office of Space Commerce (OSC) on their new mission authorization concept for novel space activities.
15 January: The Senate passes the three-bill minibus that includes funding for NASA, NIST, NSF, and DOE for FY2026.
8 January: The House passes a three-bill minibus that includes funding for NASA, NIST, NSF, and DOE for FY2026.
8 January: AAS, along with 13 other societies, submit a letter to the President in support of the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR).
5 January: AAS submitted a public comment to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in response to SpaceX’s authorization request to launch and operate 15,000 more satellites in very low Earth orbit.
December 2025
17 December: Jared Isaacman is confirmed by the Senate to be NASA Administrator.
4 December: The House Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee held a hearing titled "Strategic Trajectories Assessing China's Space Rise and the Risks to U.S. Leadership".
3 December: Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee hearing for Jared Isaacman, nominee for NASA Administrator.
1 December: AAS, along with 44 other scientific societies, sent a letter to House and Senate Appropriations Committee leadership, urging Congress to fund the NSF at the highest level possible in FY2026 and to direct sustained funding for the STEM Education Directorate. You can read the full letter here.
November 2025
13 November: AAS has released two new action alerts urging Congress to support the Keep STEM Talent Act and the Protect America's Workforce Act.
12 November: The federal government reopened after a Continuing Resolution was passed to fund the government until 30 January.
12 November: AAS has updated the action alerts urging Congress to support robust funding for astronomy and the prompt passage of FY2026 spending bills for our federal science agencies.
4 November: Jared Isaacman is renominated to serve as the NASA Administrator.
October 2025
22 October: AAS sent a letter to the Acting Director of the NSF regarding the policy changes announced in the 2025 solicitation for the Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP).
14-16 October: AAS brings 8 members to the Hill to talk with CJS Appropriations offices in the House and Senate.
14 October: AAS sent a letter to the leadership of the CJS Subcommittees in the House and the Senate, urging them to reach a conferenced agreement for FY2026 appropriations that includes the Senate levels of $7.3 billion for the NASA SMD and $9 billion for the NSF. Read the letter here.
6 October: AAS participates in Save NASA Science Day of Action.
1 October: AAS and over 50 other societies submit a letter regarding the 7 August 2025 Executive Order (EO).
1 October: The federal government shut down.
September 2025
29 September: AAS submits a comment to the Department of Homeland Security regarding "duration of status".
16 September: AAS partners with APS on an Action Alert to submit comments to the Department of Homeland Security regarding "duration of status". The comment period has closed.
10 September: The House Appropriations Committee passed their Commerce, Justice, and Science spending bill. Read more here.
4 September: The House passed their Energy and Water Development spending bill. Read more here.
3 September: Senate Commerce Committee hearing on NASA and the space race with China. Watch here.
August 2025
28 August: Executive Order: Further Exclusions from the Federal Labor-Management Relations Program.
28 August: AAS submits a reply comment to the FCC regarding the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Satellite Spectrum Abundance.
27 August: AAS submits a reply comment to the FCC regarding the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Modernizing Spectrum Sharing.
13 August: Executive Order: Enabling Competition in the Commercial Space Industry.
7 August: Executive Order: Improving Oversight of Federal Grantmaking.
July 2025
28 July: AAS submits a comment to the FCC regarding their Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Satellite Spectrum Abundance.
22 July: AAS policy team releases a breakdown of the Senate CJS bill and report here on the Policy Blog.
17 July: Senate Appropriations committee markup of Commerce, Justice, and Science bill (11:00am ET). Watch here.
15 July: AAS policy team releases new Action Alert for protecting astronomical programs in FY2026.
15 July: House Appropriations subcommittee markup of Commerce, Justice, and Science bill (12:00 pm ET). Watch here.
14 July: House Appropriations subcommittee markup of Energy and Water Development Bill (6:00 pm ET). Watch here.
14 July: AAS policy team releases a breakdown of the full President's Budget Request details for DOE Office of Science and NIST on the Policy Blog.
10 July: Senate Appropriations committee markup of Commerce, Justice, and Science bill (9:30 am ET). Watch here.
9 July: Senate Appropriations subcommittee markup of Commerce, Justice, and Science bill. Listen here.
4 July: The reconciliation bill, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, is signed into law by the President.
3 July: House passes the amended reconciliation bill.
3 July: AAS submits a letter to House and Senate Commerce, Justice, and Science member office and committee staff in support of NASA SMD, NSF, and NIST.
2 July: AAS policy team releases a blog post about the difference between reconciliation vs appropriations.
30 June - 1 July: Dara Norman, AAS President, travels to the Hill to hold meetings with congressional staff and agency officials.
1 July: Senate passes the reconciliation bill. It is being sent back to the House.
June 2025
24-26 June: AAS staff holds meetings with multiple CJS member offices prior to FY2026 spending bill markup.
June 25: A proposal for the EU Space Act is submitted, addressing a framework for space activities structured around safety, resilience, and sustainability.
June 24: More than 1,800 NSF staff learned they will be kicked out of their HQ office building.
17 June: Over 50 members of the Solar Physics Division travel to DC for Hill meetings.
13 June: AAS submitted Outside Witness Testimony to the Senate Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies.
8-12 June: 246th AAS conference in Anchorage, Alaska. The policy team hosted a plenary titled "Public Policy Plenary: The Current Landscape for Science Policy and How YOU Can Make a Difference.”
5 June: The AAS policy team releases a breakdown of the full President’s Budget Request (PBR) on the Policy Blog.
4-6 June: The AAS policy team meets with congressional offices to discuss NASA and NSF budget requests and spectrum auctions.
May 2025
May 31: The White House withdraws the nomination of Jared Isaacman as NASA Administrator.
30 May: NASA and NSF release their detailed budget requests for FY2026.
30 May: AAS leads a letter to Congress regarding National Science Foundation Reorganizations and Cuts.
28 May: AAS sends a letter to the Senate regarding the spectrum auction language in the reconciliation bill.
22 May: House passes their budget reconciliation bill, primarily related to mandatory spending (taxes, social security, Medicare, Medicaid, etc.).
8-9 May: DPS's Federal Relations Subcommittee Hill Visits.
8 May: NSF is instructed to abolish its 37 divisions.
7 May: Heliophysics Coalition Hill visits to meet with Congressional committee staff.
4-8 May: AAS Week of Action. Over 2,500 messages sent to members of Congress in just one week.
2 May: The AAS policy team releases a breakdown of skinny PBR on the Policy Blog.
2 May: Release of skinny PBR for Fiscal Year 2026.
April 2025
30 April: AAS sends a letter to Congress in support of NASA Science.
30 April: Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee votes to advance the nomination of Jared Isaacman as NASA Administrator.
28 April: AAS solicits information from members about cancelled federal grants.
24 April: NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan resigns. Ars Technica reports rumors of a 55% cut to NSF for FY 2026.
24 April: The AAS policy team releases an Action Alert urging House members to sign a Dear Colleague letter in support of DOE Office of Science. Over 100 advocates used this Action Alert.
23 April: AAS submits comments and draft legislative text for the NASA Transition Authorization Act of 2025.
21 April: The AAS policy team releases an Action Alert urging House members to sign a Dear Colleague letter in support of NSF. Over 325 advocates used this Action Alert.
18 April: NSF begins terminating grants that do not align with the administration's new priorities.
11 April: AAS holds its second policy webinar on how to engage in effective science advocacy. Congressional Visits Day participants were invited as panelists (email [email protected] for the recording).
11 April: Detailed rumors of the cuts to NASA's Science Mission Directorate in the Office of Management and Budget passback document are reported by Ars Technica.
9 April: Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee hearing for Jared Isaacman, nominee for NASA Administrator.
8 April: The AAS policy team releases an Action Alert urging House members to sign a Dear Colleague Letter in support of NASA SMD. Over 1,340 people used this Action Alert.
6-9 April: AAS hosts two students for the AAAS CASE workshop.
2 April: AAS hosts Congressional Visits Day (38 meetings).
March 2025
19 March: AAS holds its first AAS Policy Webinar: Advocacy for the Astronomical Sciences.
14 March: US judges order the administration to reinstate thousands of federal workers.
10 March: NASA closes three offices and fires 23 employees.
7 March: Reports emerge that the administration may request deep cuts to US science agencies.
6-7 March: DPS Committee Hill Visits (14 meetings).
February 2025
28 February: 30% of the Office of Space Commerce is laid off.
28 February: NSF reinstates some probationary employees.
27 February: Judge finds mass layoffs of probationary employees unlawful.
26 February: OMB Memo Guidance on Agency RIF and Reorganization Plans Requested by Implementing The President’s “Department of Government Efficiency” Workforce Optimization Initiative.
20 February: AAS releases its first Action Alert urging AAS members to email / call their members of Congress in support of our federal science agencies and employees. Over 1,050 people used this Action Alert as of June 2025.
18 February: NSF fires 168 employees.
January 2025
28 January: AAS releases a “share your story” form with AAS members. Stories have been shared with multiple office and committee staff members.
27 January: NSF freezes grant review and payment services for NSF awardees.
27 January: OMB Memo Temporary Pause of Agency Grant, Loan, and Other Financial Assistance Programs.
22 January: The AAS policy team begins holding meetings over the next several months with member offices and committee staff to discuss the current threats to US astronomy. As of June 2025, we have held over 60 meetings with congressional offices.
21 January: Executive Order: Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity.
20 January: Executive Order: Ending Radical And Wasteful Government DEI Programs And Preferencing.