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What’s Ahead
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White House Releasing Fiscal Year 2018 Budget Outline
On Thursday, the Trump administration will release its outline for the discretionary portion of the fiscal year 2018 federal budget request, which the White House has already said will cut over 10 percent of non-defense spending to pay for a $54 billion boost in defense spending. Topline requests for the federal agencies are expected in the document, although it is still unclear how much additional detail will be included. The full budget is expected in mid-May.
Agency Reorganization Executive Order Expected
President Trump could sign an executive order as early as this week requiring federal agencies to develop plans within 90 days to restructure operations and streamline programs. According to CQ Roll Call, the order’s professed aim is to make government more efficient and effective, eliminate duplicative spending, and reduce program costs.
NASA Transition Authorization Bill Awaits Trump’s Signature
The House passed the “NASA Transition Authorization Act” on March 7, sending the first new NASA authorization since 2010 to President Trump for his signature. The legislation would largely affirm existing NASA exploration and science priorities but is notably silent on NASA’s Earth Science and Heliophysics programs. Trump has recently embraced pro-space exploration rhetoric, leading to speculation that NASA may be a focus of his presidency.
Armed Services Panel to Review Nuclear Security Infrastructure Needs
On Thursday, a subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee will welcome top National Nuclear Security Administration officials and Los Alamos National Laboratory Director Charlie McMillan to testify at a hearing on “ infrastructure needs and projects ready for immediate implementation in the nuclear security enterprise.” With President Trump having promised to boost defense spending and spur $1 trillion in new spending on the nation’s infrastructure, this hearing could touch on how the nuclear security enterprise would fit into such an initiative.
Appropriators to Hold STEM Education Hearing
On Wednesday, the Senate appropriations subcommittee responsible for the Department of Education and the National Institutes of Health budgets is holding a STEM education hearing focused on “ preparing students for the careers of today and the future.” Witnesses include representatives of state and local school districts and STEM organizations.
DOE-NSF High Energy Physics Advisory Panel Meeting
The High Energy Physics Advisory Panel for the Department of Energy and the National Science Foundation will hold a three-hour teleconference on Monday afternoon. The agenda includes discussions of DOE’s High Energy Physics Program, NSF’s Elementary Particle Physics Program, and a report from the Coordinating Panel on Advanced Detectors. A full agenda and dial-in information are available here.
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In Case You Missed It House Passes Defense Spending Bill with $14B for S&T
By a vote of 371 to 48 on March 8, the House passed a new version of the fiscal year 2017 defense appropriations bill, which would set Defense Department funding at $578 billion. The bill funds Defense S&T at $14.011 billion, which is 5.7 percent over the FY16 enacted level, and within that amount Basic Research (the 6.1 account) would be funded at $2.276 billion, a 1.4 percent decrease from the FY16 level. The bill conforms to federal spending caps, which minimized Democratic opposition, and it now heads to the Senate. Congress must also pass 10 other fiscal year 2017 appropriations bills before an April 28 deadline.
New Immigration Order Draws Fresh Objections from Scientific Community
House and Senate Looking at Enacting Standards for Agency Use of Science
On Thursday, the House Science Committee approved two bills — the “HONEST Act” and “EPA Science Advisory Board Reform Act” — that reform the application of science in the rulemaking process at the Environmental Protection Agency. In addition, Sen. James Lankford (R-OK) recently introduced the “ Better Evaluation of Science and Technology Act,” which would set standards for how agencies consider scientific findings when developing new regulations. Explaining the rationale behind the bill at a hearing he convened last week, he remarked,
Senators Reintroduce Weather Research Bill
On March 8, Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee Chairman John Thune (R-SD) and committee member Brian Schatz (D-HI) reintroduced a major bill that would authorize weather research, seasonal forecasting, and commercial weather data programs at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The senators’ bill is identical to a companion bill that the House already passed in January, but Thune and Schatz still expect changes as it moves forward in the upper chamber. Late last week, Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC) reportedly placed a hold on the bill because he would like it to include a radar infrastructure project.
Rep. Bill Foster Makes Case for Research Infrastructure Funding
In testimony before the appropriations subcommittee that funds the Department of Energy, Rep. Bill Foster (D-IL) advocated for robust funding of the department’s Office of Science and the research facilities it supports. Foster, who was a project leader at DOE’s Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory in Illinois prior to becoming a congressman, pointed out that funding volatility is particularly harmful to science:
NASA Leaders Discuss Vision and Priorities at Symposium
At the 55th Annual Goddard Memorial Symposium, NASA officials discussed the agency’s science priorities, the ongoing transition between administrations, and the fiscal year 2018 budget request. Acting Administrator Robert Lightfoot highlighted the Juno, InSight, Mars 2020 Rover, Cassini, and Europa Clipper missions, as well as the James Webb Space Telescope, which he said will soon head to Johnson Space Center for testing and is on track to launch in October 2018. He also touted NASA’s recent TRAPPIST-1 exoplanet discovery, saying “ We…blew up the Internet that day as an agency, and as a science team” and that the White House noticed. A webcast of the symposium is available on the event website.
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Events This Week
Monday, March 13 American Physical Society: March Meeting (continues through Friday)
Ernest Morial Convention Center (New Orleans, LA)
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Opportunities White House OSTP Accepting Internship Applications
The Trump administration has posted information about its Office of Science of Technology Policy internship program and is currently seeking applicants. Although applications are accepted on a rolling basis for fall, spring, and summer terms, the summer 2017 application deadline is this Wednesday, March 15. According to the website, “ serving as an OSTP intern provides a unique opportunity to work closely with senior White House officials and S&T policy analysts in OSTP’s policy division or on OSTP’s legal team.”
AMS Washington Forum Open for Registration
The American Meteorological Society is hosting its 2017 Washington Forum from May 2 to May 4 in Washington, D.C., and registration is now open. The theme this year is “Evolving our Enterprise: Working Together with the New Administration in a New Collaborative Era.” The event will include sessions focused on a number of policy issues of concern to the weather, water, and climate community.
Optical Society Seeking Government/Public Relations Intern
The Optical Society is seeking a college-level intern majoring in public relations or communications to work in its external relations department for a term that runs from May to August 2017. Among other responsibilities, the intern will research ongoing S&T policy issues, assist with Capitol Hill visits, and attend briefings.
World Technology Evaluation Center Hiring Nanotech Policy Analyst
The World Technology Evaluation Center is hiring a policy analyst with knowledge of nanotechnology standards and a Ph.D. in a scientific discipline relevant to nanotechnology for a position based in Arlington, Virginia. Among its clients, WTEC provides support to the federal National Nanotechnology Coordination Office. The analyst will “ provide high-level scientific support for office management, including analyzing science and technology policy issues.”
Mathematica Hiring STEM Education Policy Researcher
Mathematica Policy Research is hiring a Ph.D. senior researcher in STEM and education policy. The senior researcher will lead research projects that focus on “ policies or programs to promote STEM education, as well as issues in higher education access and completion.”
Know of an upcoming science policy opportunity? Email us at fyi@aip.org.Know of an upcoming science policy event? Email us at fyi@aip.org.
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