Thousands March for Science Across the Globe. On Saturday, April 22, large numbers of people joined the March for Science in Washington, DC, and over 600 other locations across the globe to express their support for science and defend it against political attacks. Now that the march is over, the organizers are calling for a week of action to continue the process of advocating for science.

Trump Targets H-1B Visas. On Tuesday, April 18, President Trump signed a "Buy American and Hire American" executive order, which, among other provisions, directs government agencies to "suggest reforms to help ensure that H-1B visas are awarded to the most-skilled or highest-paid petition beneficiaries." Changes to the H-1B visa system would likely impact America's tech industry, though the exact effects are unknown since this order does not propose specific changes.

Shutdown Threat Looms, Causes Confusion. Congress returns this week from a two-week recess, facing a looming budget crisis and possible government shutdown. Because Congress had been unable to pass a budget for FY17, the government is currently operating under a continuing resolution that expires this Friday, April 28. If a budget deal is not reached before then, the government will shut down.

Even in the abstract, the possibility of a government shutdown is already causing problems. There was confusion this Monday morning, April 24, over the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) Open Data Portal, which provides access to data on potential sources of pollution. The EPA posted a statement that the agency's Open Data portal would go dark, then replaced it with one saying the site would remain active. This incident illustrates the real consequences that a government shutdown could pose, including lack of access to key government data.

OSTP Positions Unfilled; EPA Workforce to Shrink. An ongoing theme of the Trump administration has been the lack of attention to filling key scientific posts (e.g. see here and here). A group of seven Senate Democrats sent a letter on Friday, April 21, urging Trump to fill positions at the White House's Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), which has apparently shrunk to just 44 staff currently under Trump. "We urge you to nominate well-qualified experts to these and other key science and technology positions within your administration," the letter states. "OSTP leaders must be able to fulfill the Office's mission of providing accurate, relevant and timely scientific and technological advice to the president and help ensure that federal policy is informed by sound science."

Another ongoing theme of the Trump administration has been hostility to the federal workforce. On Monday, April 17, the EPA announced that it will begin shrinking its workforce through buyouts. Additionally, acting deputy administrator Mike Flynn said that the EPA would not be hiring, despite the lifting of Trump's government-wide hiring freeze.

DisHONEST Figures From the EPA Administrator. The Honest and Open New EPA Science Treatment ("HONEST") Act, passed by the House in March, would require the EPA to rely solely on research where datasets are publicly accessible, and it is designed to set the bar for science-based policymaking at EPA unreachably high. A leaked internal memo from EPA (published earlier this month) estimated the cost of implementing the Act would be $250 million due to the cost of making data available for each study used. However, EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt's office had apparently ignored this analysis when it responded to an inquiry from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) in March with the claim that the act would have a "minimal" cost. This claim was based on the assumption that the agency won't use research that doesn't already meet the standard--an approach that could reduce the research that EPA can use by as much as 95%.

Upcoming Congressional Hearings. The House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology will hold a hearing on "Advances in the Search for Life" on Wednesday, April 26, at 10:00 am EDT.

The Senate Subcommittee on Space, Science, and Competitiveness will hold a hearing on "Reopening the American Frontier: Reducing Regulatory Barriers and Expanding American Free Enterprise in Space" at the same time.

What You Can Do

  • It's down to the wire for avoiding a federal government shut down by this Friday, April 28. Let your representatives know the government needs to stay open without draconian budget cuts.
  • The EPA is asking for your comments on regulations. Check out RISE Stronger's Call to Action and participate in the comment period to share your perspective on regulations that protect health and the environment.
  • Now that the March for Science is over, what's next? You can follow up on Saturday's march with a week of action this week, brought to you by the march's organizers. (The People's Climate Movement has also organized a week of action for the current week between last Saturday's March for Science and the People's Climate March this coming Saturday.)
  • Congress will soon be tackling the FY18 budget. Take a look at the RISE Stronger Citizen's Guide to the Budget, which highlights some of the worst parts of Trump's budget proposal and equips you with information for talking to your members of Congress.

Questions to Ask Your Member of Congress

  • Ask your members of Congress how they will make sure the EPA HONEST Act does not get into any appropriation bills.
  • How will Congress address potential changes to visa and immigration procedures to ensure that the country continues to welcome students and workers in the science and technology fields? How can Congress support increased science and technology opportunities for US students, particularly from underserved communities?

- Science & Technology Policy Working Group, RISE Stronger

Have comments or something to add? Contact the RISE Science & Technology Policy Working Group at [email protected]