RISE Stronger has teamed up with 500 Women Scientists, the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), and the Engaging Scientists and Engineers in Policy (ESEP) Coalition to launch an exciting op-ed writing campaign. Join us, and speak up for science by writing an op-ed in support of government funding for science, technology, and the programs that improve our society in general. Learn more here.

USDA chief scientist nominee has no science background

President Trump has nominated Sam Clovis, a former adviser to the Trump campaign, to serve as the Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) Undersecretary for Research, Education, and Economics, which is the chief scientist position at the USDA. Clovis, a former business administration professor at Morningside College, holds an MBA and degrees in political science and public administration, but has neither a degree nor experience in agricultural science. Clovis also describes himself as a skeptic of human-caused climate change. The Union of Concerned Scientists has stated that this pick is, in fact, illegal and does not comply with federal statute, which states that the nominee should be a scientist with "specialized training or significant experience in agricultural research, education, and economics". Major farm groups have supported Clovis's nomination, but former Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman and American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) CEO Rush Holt expressed concern. Glickman stated, "Not to have someone with a scientific background in that position is going to be challenging for them."

EPA chemical safety nominee has history of industry ties

Last week, Trump nominated Michael Dourson to lead the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention, a post which requires Senate confirmation. Dourson is a professor at the University of Cincinnati who previously worked for the EPA and founded a non-profit toxicology and risk assessment organization. The EPA press release announcing Dourson's nomination cites praise from several scientists, a local government official and two people with religious ties. The Environmental Defense Fund notes his ties to industry, including work with the Texas Department of Environmental Quality "aimed at undermining EPA air pollution regulations," and failure to disclose conflicts of interest such as when he was hired by West Virginia to manage a health experts panel after a chemical spill in 2014 and failed to disclose that he had done paid work for the companies that produced the chemicals in the spill. Reports on his nomination also highlight his authorship of "science-Bible stories" in his free time.

White House unveils deregulatory plans

On Thursday, July 20, the Trump administration unveiled its full government-wide deregulatory agenda, which details when and how the administration will rescind many of the government's key protections of our health, safety, and environment.

House Democrats challenge Pruitt on "red team/blue team" climate exercise

EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt earlier this month called for a televised "red team/blue team" exercise where deniers of the scientific consensus on climate change would debate mainstream climate scientists. In order to staff its climate-denier "red team", the Trump administration has been looking to the Heartland Institute, an organization notorious for its persistent anti-science rhetoric on climate change. In the meantime, though, Democratic leaders of the House Science Committee have requested more information from Pruitt on this exercise, which they call "divorced from reality and reason."

Tillerson proposes dismantling State Department cybersecurity division

Last week, Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, proposed dismantling the State Department's Office of the Coordinator for Cyber Issues (S/CCI). The announcement followed the apparently short-lived proposal for a "US-Russia Joint Impenetrable Cybersecurity Unit" arising from President Trump's private discussions with Russian President Putin at the G20 summit earlier in July. The announcement also came on the heels of the resignation of Chris Painter, former Coordinator for Cyber Issues at the State Department. Under Tillerson's proposal, the office would move to the Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs. The mere suggestion alarmed House Democrats, prompting 24 of them to draft a letter opposing the move, citing the critical nature of the S/CCI and its role not only in economic and trade, but also national security and intelligence matters.

Senior scientist turns whistleblower, reports political interference at Interior Department

Last week, Joel Clement, former director of the Office of Policy Analysis at the US Interior Department, published an op-ed in The Washington Post recounting his involuntary reassignment to the department's Office of Natural Resources Revenue. As Clement recounts, he "was one of about 50 senior department employees who received letters informing us of involuntary reassignments." Previously Clement worked with communities impacted by climate change. Now he has been "reassigned to an unrelated job in the accounting office that collects royalty checks from fossil fuel companies." Clement's piece puts a face and a voice to what such personnel shifts mean for working scientists within government and tactics the Trump administration is using in a concerted effort to displace and isolate individuals in ways that have a chilling effect on the work of government scientists and researchers in general. Democrats on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, led by ranking member Maria Cantwell (D-WA), have called on the Interior Department's inspector general to investigate Clement's allegations that "Secretary [of the Interior] Ryan Zinke [is] using forced reassignments to coax experienced scientists to resign." The senators said moving career staff to jobs "where their talents are wasted would constitute a serious act of mismanagement, a gross waste of public funds, and an abuse of authority."

Appropriations move forward, but FY18 budget faces uncertain future

Appropriations bills continue to move forward in the House and the Senate, though the overall timeline and prospects for the FY18 budget remains uncertain. On Wednesday, July 19, the House Budget Committee passed its FY18 Budget Resolution, which sets top-line spending levels for the government. However, the resolution currently lacks the votes to pass the full House, and the Senate is pursuing its own budget strategy.

In the meantime, a growing number of voices are calling for Congress to raise the spending caps set by the 2013 sequester, which have hobbled government spending for several years. Coalitions of scientific societies and research organizations recently sent two letters to congressional leaders, urging them to raise these caps. Senate Democrats also released a plan last week to raise both defense and non-defense spending caps equally.

Senate Appropriations Committee rejects cuts, proposes increased Energy budget for FY18

On Thursday, July 20, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved by 30-1 vote the FY18 Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act, increasing the Department of Energy (DOE) budget by $629 million over its FY17 levels and $4.1 billion over President Trump's proposed allotment. This includes an 8% increase in funding to the tech development program ARPA-E, which had been slated to be fully cut in the President's proposed version of the budget. The Office of Science, also facing severe cuts in initial negotiations, receives a 3% boost. Green energy research is still at risk, however, as energy efficiency and renewable energy programs are being cut by $153 million, though this is significantly less than the initially proposed $2 billion cut. This spending plan was met with support from both sides of the aisle, even as it was directly at odds with the harsh cost-cutting measures proposed by President.

House Appropriations Committee approves FY18 Interior and Environment Bill

On Tuesday, July 18, The House Appropriations Committee approved its $31.4 billion Interior and Environment Appropriations Bill for FY18 on a largely party-line vote. The bill provides funding for regional programs such as Great Lakes cleanup, which the president's proposal sought to eliminate. EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt said he agreed with the committee bill and understands the need for continued funding for the program.

FY18 HHS Appropriations Bill Approved by House Subcommittee

On Wednesday, July 19, the House Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies approved the bill to fund the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in FY18. The bill reduces by $24 million funding for the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, which is vital to informing and supporting biomedical research that determines evidence-based practices. Such continued cuts undermine the critical scientific research needed to support healthcare.

FY18 USDA and FDA Appropriations Bill approved by Senate Committee

On Thursday, July 20, the Senate Appropriations Committee unanimously approved the FY18 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies Appropriations bill, submitted by a subcommittee on July 18. The bill calls for $145.4 billion in funding (both mandatory and discretionary) for Federal agriculture, nutrition, and related programs under the USDA and FDA. This is an increase of $4.85 billion over the President's budget request, but a $7.9 billion decrease from the enacted level in FY17. Programs targeted by the President but restored by the Senate committee included housing loans, rural business and infrastructure development, flood control, and a proposed one-third reduction in funding for the FDA. Ranking Committee member Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) praised the bipartisan effort that rejected severe cuts to these programs, but also commented, "[We] continue to be limited by Budget Control Act caps that cause many important needs to be left behind, including rural infrastructure, conservation, education and more. We need to work together to develop a bipartisan budget agreement to lift these caps, so we can give Americans the budget certainty and smart investments they deserve."

FY18 NSF appropriations advance to full committee this week

On Tuesday, July 25, the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies approved the FY18 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. The bill provides $7.3 billion to the National Science Foundation (NSF), which is $161 million less than its FY17 enacted level, but $658 million higher than the amount requested in the President's budget. The subcommittee also restored $105 million for construction of three research ships (Regional Class Research Vessels), which will be assigned to the East and West Coasts and the Gulf of Mexico. The bill also includes funding for the Departments of Commerce and Justice, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and other federal agencies. The bill will be considered by the full Appropriations Committee on Thursday, July 27.

Hearings this week

Tuesday, July 25

  • The House Subcommittee on Environment and the House Subcommittee on Energy held a joint hearing on "Examining Advancements in Biofuels: Balancing Federal Research and Market Innovation Date."
  • The House Energy and Commerce Committee held a hearing on oversight of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The hearing also considered a draft bill to reauthorize the FCC, which would ease some media ownership rules.

Wednesday, July 26

What you can do

  • Learn more about our op-ed campaign and sign up here to make a difference by writing an op-ed defending government spending for science and domestic programs in general in the FY18 budget. We will be holding an informational webinar this Friday, July 28, at 1 pm EDT/10 am PDT.
  • Time is running out to provide nominations for the EPA's Scientific Advisory Board (SAB). Learn more here, and nominate yourself or or a colleague here. Nominations are due this Thursday, July 27.
  • Republicans in the Senate are putting 22-32 million Americans' health insurance at risk. Act now to help #KillTheBill.

Highlights from partner organizations

  • The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) will hold a one-hour webinar titled "Getting Your Letter to the Editor Published". The webinar will begin at 2:00 pm EDT/11 am PDT on Thursday, July 27. Follow this link to reach the registration page.
  • Indivisible has released an August Recess Toolkit. Check it out here.

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

Want to learn more? Check us out online at risestronger.org/groups/rise-science-technology, and sign up for the RISE S&T Newsletter at tinyletter.com/rise-science-tech.