In This Issue: Appropriations Hearing on National Science Foundation Fiscal Year 2018 Proposed Budget NSF director Córdova greeted with unified support of agency’s mission Appropriations Hearing on Environmental Protection Agency Fiscal Year 2018 Proposed Budget Administrator Pruitt emerges unscathed, budget in tatters Senate Hearings Examine DOI Budget for FY 2018 Zinke testifies, suggests cutting 4,000 employees for FY 2018 Quick…
In This Issue: U.S. to Exit Paris Climate Accord President withdraws from global deal Agency Heads Defend Paris Withdrawal, Question Climate Change Support for withdrawal from Zinke, Pruitt ESA Statement on U.S. Exit from Paris Agreement Statement from ESA president condemns withdrawal Quick Reads ESA member action alert, NSF DDIGs discontinued, hearing on NSF grant costs, EPA rule delays, DOI…
June 8, 2017 France Córdova Director National Science Foundation James Olds Assistant Director, Bio Directorate National Science Foundation  Dear Director Córdova and Assistant Director Olds: The Ecological Society of America (ESA) is the world’s largest society of professional ecologists representing over 10,000 members across the country. We write to urge the National Science Foundation (NSF) to keep the Doctoral…
Ask your Members of Congress to restore funding for science Dear ESA Member: As you may know, President Trump’s Fiscal Year 2018 (FY18) budget request sent to Congress cuts research accounts across federal agencies and would devastate America’s scientific enterprise. We are hearing from Hill staff that they are not receiving comments about the administration’s budget request or specific funding…
 By withdrawing from the Paris Agreement on climate change, the United States is abdicating its role as the world leader in using science-based information to inform policy. Business, political, and scientific leaders the world over are condemning the decision. More than 190 signatory nations agreed to take actions towards reducing future temperature increases and addressing the serious threats posed…
In This Issue: President Releases FY 2018 Budget Request Proposes huge cuts to non-defense discretionary spending, especially science and environmental funding Congressional Review Act, Record 14 Rules Overturned Only used once before, actions could chill rulemaking for decades President Announces Additional Agency Nominees Industry lobbyist for Deputy Secretary of the Interior, EPA enforcement officer, rumored USDA research nominee Coast Guard…
This issue of Policy News concludes ESA’s series of special editions covering the US Presidential Transition. With many vacant positions remaining in the new administration, we will continue to report on relevant updates in our regular Policy News and monitor them in the Federal Agency Transition Tracker. In This Issue: President Trump’s Use of Executive Authority in the First 100 Days Modern…
We are keeping you up-to-date on the appropriations process with a Federal Budget Tracker for FY 2018. We are also continuing to update our Federal Agency Transition Tracker. In This Issue: Executive Order Reshapes Climate Policies President signs order at EPA, directs agencies to review fossil fuel actions, implications for international agreements increasingly unclear EPA Budget Funding cuts, program eliminations, and…
We are keeping you up-to-date on the appropriations process with a new Federal Budget Tracker for FY 2018. We are also continuing to update our Federal Agency Transition Tracker. In This Issue: Budget Blueprint Slashes Non-Defense Discretionary Budgets Hiring freeze, agency reorganizations, and budget blueprint cause concern in scientific community House Science Committee Seeks to Prioritize Basic Physical Sciences Research NSF…
We are keeping you up-to-date with a Federal Agency Transition Tracker. In This Issue: Transition Update Trump addresses Congress and signs two STEM bills Bipartisan bills promote women in STEM Executive Orders Waters of the U.S. Rule Foreign Travel and Immigration Department of the Interior – Zinke takes the reins Greeted by documents requests, signs two secretarial orders Department of Energy…
March 6, 2017 Dear ESA Members: Like many of you, I have found it hard to know how to react to the style, tone, and substance of the new administration in Washington. I have followed a common admonition: wait and see. I have been hesitant to speak out because so much remains uncertain about what policies the administration will pursue. I…
ESA and six other scientific societies sent a letter to President Trump expressing support for the Waters of the United States Clean Water Rule and endorsing an amici curiae brief filed by wetland and aquatic scientists in support of the rule. A version of the letter was also sent to Congress urging members to defend the Clean Water Rule. March 1, 2017 President Donald…