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
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
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
I am sharing an update to my January 27 From the Prow message regarding the Executive Orders and directives coming from the United States federal government and how they are affecting AGU’s members and the broader scientific community. We are requesting your input on how these federal directives have been impacting you and your work, … Read more
For the second time in the fiscal year 2025 appropriations cycle, the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate have agreed to a short-term funding measure to avert a government shutdown. With yet another temporary solution, the future of U.S. science remains in jeopardy. AGU urgently calls on lawmakers to prioritize stability and investment in scientific … 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
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
In our special “Third Pod from the Sun” episode, featuring AGU Vice President of Meetings Lauren Parr and AGU Vice President of Science Policy and Government Relations Lexi Shultz, we talk about what is AGU, as an organization, doing to serve as an ally when it comes to our meetings and public policy.
This Friday, 30 April, marks U.S. President Biden’s 100th day in office. The new administration has shown a strong commitment to science, including elevating the Office of Science and Technology Policy to a cabinet-level position, rejoining the Paris Agreement, committing to reducing U.S. emissions by about 50% below 2005 levels by 2030, as well as laying out how the administration will address the world’s climate crisis.
We applaud the Biden Administration’s steps to remedy these challenges, as well as the disproportionate health and environmental effects suffered by underrepresented minorities.