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What’s Ahead
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| Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), center right, confers with Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL), a key opponent of his bid to be speaker of the House. (Image credit – Andrew Harnik / AP) |
House Leadership Deadlock Ends But Future Standoffs Likely
Last week’s deadlock over House leadership ended in the early hours of Jan. 7, when on their 15th vote members elected Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) as speaker by a razor-thin margin. To secure assent from holdouts in his party’s far-right flank, McCarthy made steep concessions, including allowing single members of his party to initiate votes to remove him. Hardliners are expected to try to force McCarthy into standoffs with the Democrat-controlled Senate and the Biden administration, particularly over budgets. If Democrats do not agree to sharply constrain spending, Republicans could threaten to shut down the government by not passing new appropriations legislation or decline to raise the federal debt limit, risking severe economic consequences. McCarthy has also promised far-right members three spots on the House Rules Committee, giving them sway over what proposals reach the floor and potentially making it more difficult to reach bipartisan agreements.
This week, the new House majority’s first step will be to adopt a rules package formalizing how it will run the chamber, including what constraints it will place on consideration of spending legislation. Disruptions stemming from standoffs or broad cutbacks in federal spending would certainly affect science agencies, despite the bipartisan buy-in for recent science policy initiatives such as the CHIPS and Science Act. Some particular science policy issues may also become the subject of controversy in ad hoc committees. Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI) is poised to chair a new committee on strategic competition with China that is likely to push additional restrictions on R&D exchanges with that country. Also, the existing coronavirus committee will change direction under Republican leadership, with attention focusing on topics such as the “lab leak” hypothesis of the pandemic’s origin, dangers associated with “gain-of-function” research, and the actions of Anthony Fauci, who has just retired as director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. The “climate crisis” committee the Democrats ran during the last two congresses will not continue and Republicans now plan to focus oversight on clean energy projects funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act. They also plan to keep a close eye on the semiconductor initiatives funded through the CHIPS and Science Act.
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In Case You Missed It
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| Secretary of State Antony Blinken, center, at a December 2022 meeting of the U.S.-EU Trade and Technology Council. (Image credit – Commerce Department) |
State Department Creates Emerging Technology Envoy Office
The State Department announced last week it has established an Office of the Special Envoy for Critical and Emerging Technology as part of a broader “modernization agenda” Secretary of State Antony Blinken is pursuing focused on technology diplomacy. The office’s aim is to be a “center of expertise and energy to develop and coordinate critical and emerging technology foreign policy, and to engage foreign partners on emerging technologies that will transform our societies, economies, and security — including biotechnology, advanced computing, artificial intelligence, and quantum information technologies.” The department has not announced who will be the special envoy but appointed as deputy envoy Seth Center, who previously worked as a historian at the National Security Council and as a senior adviser to the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence and the Special Competitive Studies Project. Despite his focus on emerging technology, Blinken has yet to appoint a science and technology adviser, a position the department created in 2000 to better incorporate technical expertise into its activities.
Intelligence Agencies Urged to Expand S&T Engagement
The National Academies released a report last month that identifies shortcomings in the ability of U.S. intelligence agencies to stay abreast of the latest advances in science and technology. The report’s primary recommendation is for the director of national intelligence to elevate attention to S&T across the intelligence community by appointing a chief technology and innovation officer, who would focus in part on coordinating R&D efforts across agencies and with outside organizations. Broadly, the report observes that the culture of secrecy at intelligence agencies can hamper access to cutting-edge research and it urges more engagement with researchers who primarily work in unclassified settings. It specifically proposes that intelligence agencies consider establishing more rotational positions that bring in scientists from academia and industry, including at the unclassified and secret levels since higher-level clearances can confer lifelong publication restrictions. It points to the CIA’s decision to establish a more open laboratory as a promising step and notes other intelligence agencies are considering establishing analogous labs. The report was developed by a 17-member committee chaired by Frederick Chang, chair of the computer science department at Southern Methodist University. In his preface, Chang explains that the report focuses on high-level organizational matters in part because a 2021 task force organized by the Center for Strategic and International Studies had already covered more detailed issues.
DARPA Funds New Microelectronics R&D Centers
NSF Selects Next Materials Research Division Director
The National Science Foundation announced last week it has selected Germano Iannacchione to lead the Materials Research Division within its Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences. An expert in soft condensed matter with a doctoral degree in physics, Iannacchione has been a professor at Worcester Polytechnic Institute since 1998. He previously spent three years at NSF as a rotator overseeing the division’s condensed matter physics and biomaterials programs. Iannacchione will take over the role at the end of January from Linda Sapochak, who has led the division since 2016.
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Events This Week
All times are Eastern Standard Time, unless otherwise noted. Listings do not imply endorsement.
Monday, January 9
American Astronomical Society: 241st meeting
(continues through Thursday)
Tuesday, January 10
Wednesday, January 11
Thursday, January 12
Friday, January 13
Saturday, January 14
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Opportunities Federal Lab Assessment Board Seeking Members
The National Academies is seeking nine members for its Laboratory Assessments Board, which carries out technical reviews of national laboratories and other federal research facilities. Nominees should have expertise in laboratory management, program development, or the assessment of R&D activities. Nominations are due Jan. 13.
NASA Hiring Biological and Physical Sciences Head
NASA is hiring a director for the Biological and Physical Sciences Division within its Science Mission Directorate. With an annual budget around $85 million, the division supports research on how biological and physical systems respond to spaceflight environments in order to advance scientific discovery and enable space exploration. Candidates must have demonstrated experience managing a diverse portfolio of biological or physical sciences research programs. Applications are due March 3.
Input Sought on National Nature Assessment
The U.S. Global Change Research Program is seeking input to inform its first National Nature Assessment, which will “assess the status, observed trends, and future projections of America’s lands, waters, wildlife, biodiversity and ecosystems and the benefits they provide.” Specific benefits to be assessed include “connections to the economy, public health, equity, climate mitigation and adaptation, and national security.” USGCRP is specifically seeking input on potential audiences and uses for the assessment, as well as which questions and trends it should address. Comments are due March 31.
Know of an upcoming science policy event either inside or outside the Beltway? Email us at fyi@aip.org.
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