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What’s Ahead
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| Image credit – Jamie Velkoverh / U.S. Geological Survey |
Spending Deal Elusive as Congress Reaches Thanksgiving Recess
Congress is out of session this week ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday on Thursday. When lawmakers return to business next week, they will have less than two weeks left to reach a deal on fiscal year 2021 spending before the current stopgap measure expires on Dec. 11. Although Democratic and Republican leaders have expressed interest in reaching an agreement by then, some observers believe the parties are still far apart and unlikely to reach a resolution soon. One major dispute is over the scale of a new pandemic relief package, which could either be passed on its own or as part of a broader appropriations deal. If there is no breakthrough, a new stopgap measure would be needed and could potentially stretch into the incoming Biden administration. Meanwhile, a conference committee began work last week on a final version of Congress’ annual defense policy update, which includes a variety of significant science and technology provisions. Lawmakers are currently seeking to defuse a veto threat from President Trump, but otherwise do not foresee major obstacles.
Biden to Announce Cabinet Members as Trump Obstruction Continues
Having already named some of the senior members of his White House staff, President-elect Biden is planning to formally announce his first Cabinet picks on Tuesday. Among them will be secretary of state nominee Tony Blinken, who, pending his confirmation, will oversee such pressing matters as U.S. strategy toward China, visa policy, and the reentry of the U.S. into the Paris climate agreement and World Health Organization. Meanwhile, President Trump has dug in on his quixotic campaign to subvert the election results, and the General Services Administration is still refusing to declare Biden the apparent winner. As a consequence, Biden’s transition team has been denied access to federal resources and the cooperation of federal departments and agencies. In lieu of working with federal officials, the team is meeting with congressional committees, state officials, and private companies, among others on priorities such as COVID-19 vaccine distribution. With Inauguration Day less than two months away, concerns are rising that withheld cooperation will hamper essential government activities in national security and the pandemic response. However, as more states certify their election results, the GSA will have fewer pretexts for preventing the transition from officially moving ahead.
Update: The GSA has notified the Biden team that it is initiating the formal transition process.
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In Case You Missed It
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| Two recent cable failures tore gashes in the Arecibo radio telescope dish and have put the facility in danger of a catastrophic collapse. (Image credit – University of Central Florida) |
NSF to Dismantle Arecibo Telescope
The National Science Foundation announced last week it will begin decommissioning the 57-year-old Arecibo radio telescope in Puerto Rico after engineers determined that two recent cable failures have rendered it unsafe to repair. In August, one of the cables suspending a platform over the telescope’s 305 meter reflector dish slipped out of its socket, tearing a large gash in the dish. A second cable broke on Nov. 6, even though it was only subject to stresses of about 60% of its expected minimum breaking strength. Independent assessments found that the remaining primary cables, which were made in the 1950s and ‘60s, are also susceptible to failure, leaving the entire structure at risk of “catastrophic failure” should another break. NSF said the decommissioning plan will focus on the radio telescope itself and that it hopes to retain other infrastructure at the site, such as its LIDAR facility. Noting Arecibo’s cultural and economic significance, NSF said it will also explore ways to expand the observatory’s education and outreach activities. In a joint statement on the decision, House Science Committee leaders Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) and Frank Lucas (R-OK) urged NSF to continue to support the facility “as an active hub of STEM education and outreach programming in Puerto Rico, and to explore opportunities to use the site for exciting new science in the future.” In 1988, another major NSF radio telescope at Green Bank, West Virginia, collapsed unexpectedly, and it was later replaced by a new facility that was championed by then-Sen. Robert Byrd (D-WV).
Barrasso Taking Top Spot on Senate Energy Committee
Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY) announced last week that he intends to take the top Republican seat on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee in the next Congress, vacating his current position leading the Environment and Public Works Committee. Barrasso is next in line by seniority for the role, which Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) is leaving due to term limits. Barrasso has been a vocal advocate for the uranium mining interests in his state and for revitalizing the U.S. nuclear energy industry, sponsoring the Nuclear Energy Innovation and Modernization Act enacted in 2019 and a follow-on bill introduced last week. Barrasso is also a lead sponsor of the Utilizing Significant Emissions with Innovative Technologies (USE IT) Act, which proposes establishing carbon capture and removal initiatives.
DOE Shuffles Applied Energy Officials
Earlier this month, the Department of Energy appointed Office of Fossil Energy head Steven Winberg to serve as acting under secretary of energy, a role that had been vacant since the previous under secretary, Mark Menezes, was confirmed as deputy energy secretary in August. The under secretary of energy is responsible for general matters of energy policy and oversees DOE’s applied energy offices. In addition, DOE replaced Alexander Gates as the lead official at the Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response with Nick Andersen, who over the last year has served in various cybersecurity positions within the Trump administration. The moves follow the resignation in September of DOE Office of Electricity head Bruce Walker, whose role is being filled in an acting capacity by career official Patricia Hoffmann, who previously led the office from 2010 to 2017.
Science Committee Blasts NIST Political Appointment
Top Democrats on the House Science Committee sent a letter to Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross last week condemning the appointment of social scientist Jason Richwine to a newly created role at the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Noting that Richwine has advocated the use of IQ-based immigration tests and argued that certain ethnic groups are intellectually inferior to white Americans, Committee Chair Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) and Research Subcommittee Chair Haley Stevens (D-MI) wrote, “There is no place for prejudice, racism, and xenophobia in the federal research enterprise. That Dr. Richwine holds these beliefs and has deliberately built a public profile around them is abhorrent; that he has apparently been rewarded for them by the Trump administration is a scandal.” They also note Richwine has no apparent experience relevant to a high-level position at NIST. Their letter requests that Ross explain who created the new position by Nov. 24 and provide further information about the role by Dec. 1. Richwine is the latest in a series of controversial political appointments made across the Department of Commerce, which has triggered an inquiry by its inspector general.
White House Releases Advanced Computing Strategic Plan
The interagency National Science and Technology Council released a report last week outlining a “whole-of-nation” strategy for developing an advanced computing ecosystem that incorporates resources across government, academia, nonprofits, and industry. Building on recommendations of the council’s 2019 update to the National Strategic Computing Initiative, the report defines agency roles and responsibilities and highlights current federal efforts that are aligned with the strategy. It identifies the Department of Energy, Department of Defense, and National Science Foundation as lead agencies that will work closely with other agencies to pursue foundational R&D, develop new applications, and deploy advanced computing systems in collaboration with industry and academia. The report also suggests strategies for meeting future workforce needs.
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Events This Week Monday, November 23
Tuesday, November 24
Wednesday, November 25
No events start today.
Thursday, November 26
Thanksgiving Holiday
Friday, November 27
No events.
Monday, November 30
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Opportunities Ocean Decade Committee Seeking Liaisons and ‘Ocean-Shot’ Ideas
The U.S. National Committee for the U.N. Ocean Decade, which kicks off in 2021, is accepting applications for four early-career scientists to serve as liaisons for committee meetings and outreach activities. Liaisons serve two-year terms and will work to bring early career perspectives into the committee deliberations, among other responsibilities. The U.S. National Committee is also accepting proposals for “Ocean-Shots,” which it defines as transformational research concepts that draw from multiple disciplines and advance the ability of ocean science to address sustainable development goals. Submissions for both opportunities are due Dec. 1.
Research!America Seeking Outreach Manager
Research!America is hiring an outreach manager to support coordination efforts with senior staff of more than 70 scientific societies and associations. The outreach manager will also oversee a policy microgrant program for early-career scientists and help advance Research!America’s advocacy priorities by conducting policy research and representing the organization at meetings with federal agencies. Candidates must have a doctoral degree in a scientific field and 2-3 years of relevant experience.
Missouri S&T Policy Initiative Seeking Fellow
The Missouri S&T Policy Initiative is accepting applications for a data management and policy fellow to be placed in the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations for one year, with the opportunity to extend for a second year. Applicants must hold a terminal degree in science, technology, engineering, math, medicine, or a related discipline.
Know of an upcoming science policy event either inside or outside the Beltway? Email us at fyi@aip.org.
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