The United States has just come through the longest government shutdown in its history—a period of deep uncertainty that exacerbated hardships for the nation. Some scientists still reported for duty, delivering life-saving forecasts and monitoring hazards without pay. But with labs closed and research halted, the critical work behind those services—modeling, maintenance, and long-term observations—was … Read more
I write to you today outraged on behalf of everyone who depends on a functioning government. Last Wednesday, the U.S. government shut down. Now, the threat of mass firings looms over our federal workforce. Many of our members are hardworking U.S. federal scientists who have dedicated their careers to serving the public. When federal scientists … Read more
We have a promising update regarding the case for which AGU is one of the plaintiffs. In AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO, et al., v. Donald J. Trump et al., Judge Susan Illston of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California granted the request for a preliminary injunction, which blocks the government … Read more
The American public deserves better. Science drives progress, but it can’t do that with stopgap funding and political gridlock. It’s time to end the cycle. Science needs certainty and sustained financial growth – and the recognition by Congress that undermining science shortchanges American competitiveness in the world. Unfortunately, even the most thoughtfully crafted spending bill … Read more
What You Didn’t Hear Last Night but Need to Know Last night, President Trump addressed a joint session of Congress. Titled “The Renewal of the American Dream,” there was heavy emphasis on the economy, border security, and foreign relations, but what you didn’t hear was the realities of a hollowing out of the federal workforce … Read more
We are pleased to announce the approval of three updated position statements that will help shape the future of climate action, science communication and data sharing. AGU position statements—created, revised and approved by members with feedback and support from experts in related fields—are what enable AGU to take adaptive stances on significant policy issues ranging … Read more
As chair of the AGU Leadership Development and Governance Committee, I am pleased to announce the proposed slate of candidates for the 2024 AGU Elections. In accordance with our bylaws, AGU elects new leaders every two years. This year’s slate showcases a diverse and exceptional group of leaders ready to guide AGU’s future and further … Read more
The recent United States Supreme Court decision in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo has profound implications for the Earth and space sciences. The 6-3 decision overturned the 1984 case of Chevron USA v. Natural Resources Defense Council, effectively ending a 40-year-old precedent of deferring to the expertise of U.S. federal agencies when interpreting ambiguous language in congressional … Read more
Nearly halfway through the fiscal year, Congress has passed six spending bills for the remainder of FY24 that include budget cuts for key federal science research agencies. These cuts are harmful to the advancement of science and the protection of people and the environment. AGU strongly advocates for policymakers to prioritize science as they wrestle … Read more
For the third time in the fiscal year 2024 appropriations cycle, the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate have agreed to extend funding of the government and avert a shutdown. With another short-term funding solution, the future of science hangs in the balance once again. We urgently call upon lawmakers to prioritize scientific … Read more