Issue 4 (February 18)

Trump Administration Actions (all actions available here):

• Establishing the President’s Make America Healthy Again Commission (2/13/25)
• Implementing the President’s “Department of Government Efficiency” Workforce Optimization Initiative (2/11/25) (MORE INFORMATION)
• Advancing United States Interests When Funding Nongovernmental Organizations (2/6/25) (MORE INFORMATION)
• Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling (1/29/25)
• President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (1/23/25)
• Removing Barriers to American Leadership in Artificial Intelligence (1/23/25)
• Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity (1/21/24) (MORE INFORMATION)
• Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing (1/20/25)
• Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Trust to the Federal Government (1/20/25)
• Establishing and Implementing the President’s “Department of Government Efficiency” (1/20/25)
• Restoring Accountability to Policy-Influencing Positions within the Federal Workforce (1/20/25) – Reinstates Trump Administration’s 2020 EO creating a new Schedule F in the Federal Excepted Service 
• Withdrawing the U.S. from the WHO (1/20/25)
• Putting America First in International Environmental Agreements (1/20/25) – Withdraws the U.S. from the Paris Climate Accord, among other actions.
• Hiring Freeze (1/20/25) (MORE INFORMATION)
• Return to In-Person Work (1/20/25) (MORE INFORMATION)
• Restoring Freedom of Speech and Ending Federal Censorship (1/20/25)
• Initial Rescissions of Harmful Executive Orders and Actions (1/20/25) – Rescinds dozens of Biden Administration Executive Orders

As previously reported, the Trump Administration has from day one been issuing a dizzying number of executive actions, some whose legality remain in question. Below are some of the latest developments coming out of the White House. 

Federal Workforce

Last week, as part of an Executive Order on “workforce optimization,” the President’s Office of Personnel Management directed federal agencies to fire “trial and probationary” employees, providing little other guidance on how to do it. Typically, probationary employees are those within 1-3 years of service in their position.  

Democratic lawmakers and government worker unions are pushing back, arguing the long-term damage that will be inflicted on the federal workforce, especially given that an estimated one-quarter of probationary employees are under the age of 30.

It is estimated that the reduction in force has so far claimed 1,000 jobs at the National Institutes of Health, 700 to 1,300 at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and an undetermined number at the National Science Foundation, with massive layoffs also being felt across the government. It is expected that layoffs are also coming for senior agency officials.

22 States Sue Over NIH Funding Cuts

Last week, 22 states filed suit against the Trump Administration in response to a February 7 NIH Notice (NOT-OD-25-068) that seeks to cap indirect, or overhead, costs associated with NIH grants at 15 percent, throwing the university and biomedical research community into chaos. These costs cover facilities, equipment, and staff associated with federal grants. A federal judge temporarily blocked the change, and a hearing is scheduled for February 21. Congression Democrats contend that the move may be illegal citing language that was included in an appropriations bill during the first Trump term prohibiting such actions.

Universities, nonprofits, and advocacy organizations have responded strongly:

• Association of American Medical Colleges
• AAAS Board of Directors
• Research!America

Reviewing Funding to NGOs

On February 6, the White House issued a memorandum to federal departments and agencies directing them to “review all funding that agencies provide to [Non-Governmental Organizations].” The memo statues that significant taxpayer funding has been provided to NGOs, “many of which are engaged in actions that actively undermine the security, prosperity, and safety of the American people.” It is currently unclear how federal agencies are responding to the directive. 

Since January, government data sources have begun disappearing from federal agency websites, including at the National Science Foundation, U.S. Census Bureau, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other agencies within the Department of Health and Human Services, and Department of Justice, among others. While some data have since been restored, many remain unavailable and the Trump Administration’s plans regarding the availability of government data and statistics remain uncertain.

The social and behavioral science community understands well that the research enterprise, government officials, businesses, and other sectors rely on accurate, unbiased public data—data that must remain free from political interference.

Write to your Members of Congress TODAY to express your concern about the recent removal of important federal data sources from government websites and urge them to take action to restore it.

Visit our ACTION CENTER page to send a quick message.

On February 27, join COSSA for updates on the latest Congressional actions, President Trump’s Executive Actions, and the federal budget.

The webinar will be taking place on February 27 at 1pm EST. Register here.

If you missed COSSA’s recent webinar 119th Congress & Trump 2.0: What Does it Mean for Us? you can find the recording and slides here.

Headlines is a webinar series available to COSSA member organizations. Watch for additional webinar announcements, and previous webinar recordings, on the COSSA website.

The stakes for research funding are at an all-time high as we enter a tough political and budgetary landscape. Social Science Advocacy Day is a must for everyone invested in the fate of federal funding for social and behavioral science research and who believe this research is vital to inform sound public policy. Now is the time to act.

Registration for COSSA’s annual Social Science Advocacy Day is still open. The event will be taking place March 24-25, 2025 in Washington, DC and you can register here.

If your organization is interested in becoming a sponsor for Social Science Advocacy Day, find all of our sponsorship opportunities available here.

Visit the COSSA website for the latest information on Social Science Advocacy Day.

As the Republican-controlled Congress seeks to push forward the Trump Administration’s policy goals, the House and Senate have proposed budget reconciliation packages relating to increasing funding for the border and defense as well as limiting spending and renewing tax cuts. On February 13, House Republicans struck a deal within their conference to push forward the proposed 2025 budget reconciliation package. The package would direct committees to find $1.5 trillion worth of budget cuts while simultaneously providing $4.5 trillion to the Ways and Means Committee for tax cuts. The reconciliation bill would increase the deficit by up to $4 trillion over a decade. On the other side of the Capitol, the Senate Republicans have released their proposed version of a budget reconciliation bill, which has been split into two packages—one focused on increasing funding for the border, defense, and the coast guard, and a separate package on tax proposals and spending limits.

Shifting to fiscal year (FY) 2025 funding, the continuing resolution (CR) passed late December is set to lapse on March 14 (see previous COSSA coverage), it is unclear whether Congress plans to enact a year-long CR, pass the appropriations bills individually, or push appropriations through one large bill. Top appropriators are pushing to finalize the bills and avoid a stopgap bill; however, time is running out as appropriations talks continue between the two chambers.

Stay tuned to COSSA’s continued coverage on the appropriations process.

Representative Brian Babin (R-TX) has been appointed Chair of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, replacing Rep. Frank Lucas (R-OK), who departed due to Republican term limits for committee leadership (see previous COSSA coverage). Previously, Babin served as Chairman of the Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee. Babin will serve alongside Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), the ranking Democrat on the committee.

In the announcement of his appointment, Babin stated, “Between our nation’s booming science, space, and tech sectors and the growing threat posed by adversaries like Communist China, there has never been a more important time for this committee. Falling behind in any of these critical arenas is not an option.” The committee has already started holding hearings on research and development where the importance of federal funding for scientific research has been questioned by the Republican-majority (see related article). We expect to see several more hearings this year seeking to conduct oversight of science and technology investments made in recent years, such as implementation of the CHIPS and Science Act and the new Technology, Innovation and Partnerships Directorate at the National Science Foundation. In his press release, Babin added, “We must ensure our nation is not tethered to Earth by red tape – industry should operate at the rapid speed of innovation rather than the sluggish pace of bureaucracy.”

With the appointment of Chairman Babin and Ranking Member Lofgren, subcommittee assignments have subsequently been released, including for the Research and Technology Subcommittee, which will be chaired by Rep. Jay Obernolte (R-NJ), replacing Rep. Mike Collins (R-GA). Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI) will remain as the ranking Democrat. In addition to the Research and Technology Subcommittee, COSSA will be watching the Investigations and Oversight Subcommittee, led by Chairman Rich McCormick (R-GA) and Ranking Member Emilia Sykes (D-OH), as the committee’s scientific policy reshapes under the new leadership.

Stay tuned to COSSA’s continued coverage on the 119th Congress.

On February 5, the House Science, Space, and Technology (SST) Committee invited a panel of four experts across the science, research, and higher education communities for a hearing on the state of U.S. Science and Technology. The hearing explored the roles of public and private research and development (R&D) entities, strengthening national security, and addressing the recent freeze in federal funding enacted by the Trump Administration (see previous COSSA coverage). Witnesses included Heather Wilson, President of the University of Texas at El Paso and member of the National Science Board (NSB), Walter Copan, Vice President for Research and Technology Transfer at Colorado School of Mines, Sudip Parikh, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Publisher at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), and Samuel Hammond, Chief Economist at the Foundation for American Innovation.

In his opening remarks, Chairman Brian Babin (R-TX) highlighted the importance of collaboration between the federal government, academia, and the philanthropic and private sectors to the U.S. science and technology enterprise. Despite not acknowledging the recent federal funding freeze, he underscored Congress’ role in protecting and promoting R&D investments through tax reform, reducing bureaucratic red tape, and safeguarding intellectual property rights. Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), however, expressed her discontent with the federal funding freeze, noting that, “for many decades there has been bipartisan consensus that the federal role in basic research is essential.”

Some Republican members of the committee echoed Chairman Babin’s statements, calling for strengthening public-private partnerships and facilitating federal R&D investments to reap the most effective results. Rep. Vince Fong (R-CA) inquired about the absence of federal cooperation barring greater participation from the private sector, to which Copan emphasized the need for stronger inter-agency collaboration with support from Congress to navigate such legislative hurdles. This need for continued federal funding and presence in the research sector was underscored by Copan’s earlier opening remarks stating that the high value and return rates of public sector R&D aren’t appropriately appreciated.

Recognizing the crackdown on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) practices (see COSSA coverage), Ranking Member Lofgren’s opening remarks emphasized the threat of China and underscored the need for federal investments in science and technology in addition to tapping into sources of scientific talent from all walks of global life to maintain U.S. global leadership. In agreement with Lofgren, some Democratic committee members stressed their concerns over the recent actions regarding DEI policies, federal R&D funding, and dwindling support of talent pipelines through higher education. To this end, Dr. Parikh agreed that “we are hurting our own enterprise with self-inflicted wounds,” referring to the U.S. closing itself off to international collaboration and the damage caused by the federal spending freeze to young scientists.

Statements from Chairman Babin, witness testimonies, and a recording of the hearing are available on the SST Committee website.

This article was contributed by COSSA Intern Sarah Wang.