Kaptur, Lofgren Demand Answers from DOE After Political Appointee Remained on Payroll Nearly Nine Months after Agency Removal
(Washington, DC) - Yesterday, Ranking Member Marcy Kaptur (OH-09) of the Committee on Appropriations’ Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development and Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (CA-18) of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology sent a letter to Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Chris Wright demanding answers regarding a political appointee remaining on paid administrative leave nine months after they were removed from their position. The appointee in question, Ms. Cathy Tripodi, … Continue Reading
July 16, 2026Ranking Member Lofgren's Statement on National Academies Extreme Weather and Climate Events Attribution Report
(Washington, DC) - Today, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) released a report titled, "Attribution of Extreme Weather and Climate Events and Their Impacts." The report, according to the NASEM, "provides a comprehensive assessment of the current capabilities of extreme event attribution (EEA) — a scientific field that analyzes whether and to what extent human-caused climate change influenced an individual extreme weather event, such as a specific heat wave or … Continue Reading
July 13, 2026Democratic Members Demand Withdrawal of OMB’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, Condemn Attacks on Scientific Community
(Washington, DC) — Today, Science Democrats submitted a public comment to the docket of the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) proposed revisions to the Guidance for Federal Financial Assistance. OMB’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking is far-reaching and would have severe consequences on our nation’s scientific enterprise. The Members demand that the proposed rule be withdrawn. A summary of the many issues arising from OMB’s proposed rule is as follows: The proposed rule sets a double … Continue Reading
July 07, 2026Lofgren, Warren, Wyden, Van Hollen Lead New Probe Into Cantor Fitzgerald, USAR After $1.6 Billion Trump Administration Deal
(Washington, DC) - U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ranking Member on the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Ranking Member on the Senate Finance Committee; Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Ranking Member on the Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies; and Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, pressed Cantor Fitzgerald (Cantor) — led by … Continue Reading
June 30, 2026Ranking Member Lofgren Demands Reversal of Changes Made to NSF Award Policies
(Washington, DC) - Yesterday, Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren sent a letter to National Science Foundation (NSF) Acting Director Brian Stone demanding that NSF rescind its proposed amendments to its Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG). On June 24, NSF posted a change to the PAPPG that would implement provisions of the Office of Management and Budget's proposed rule that aims to make sweeping changes to how federal grants are awarded. This proposed rule was initially announced … Continue Reading
June 25, 2026Ranking Member Lofgren Applauds Passage of Ten AI Bills, Commits to Fighting for Democratic AI Priorities
(Washington, DC) - Today, the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology passed ten AI bills through Committee. The bills are listed below. “I’m pleased that we were able to move ten AI bills through the Committee today,” said Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA). “These bills are focused on the challenges and opportunities presented by the widespread adoption of AI technology. The bills passed today thoughtfully recognized and address the nuance and complexity around these issues. I’m … Continue Reading
June 23, 2026Ranking Member Lofgren Pushes for Public Hearing on Jim O’Neill as Next NSF Director
(Washington, DC) - Today, Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) sent a letter to Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) urging him to hold a public hearing on the nomination of Jim O’Neill for Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF). The Ranking Member calls into question whether O’Neill is qualified for the role and implores Senator Cassidy examine O’Neill’s involvement in a controversial grant awarded to an … Continue Reading
June 18, 2026Lofgren Statement on Reporting that NSF Will Halt Illegal Scheme to Dismantle Ocean Monitoring System After Democratic Action
(Washington, DC) - Today, the New York Times reported that the National Science Foundation (NSF) intends to announce they will stop their plan to illegally dismantle the Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI). This comes after Congressional Democrats rallied against the administration’s expensive scheme to remove monitoring equipment from the ocean floor. It’s been reported that some research buoys have already been pulled off the Pacific Northwest coast. “This is welcome news—NSF leadership is … Continue Reading
June 15, 2026Science, Natural Resources Committee Democrats Demand Trump Administration Cease Illegal and Expensive Scheme to Dismantle NSF Ocean Observation System
Unfortunately for the President, NSF’s ability to tear itself apart at his whim is limited by the law. (Washington, DC) - Today, Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology and Ranking Member Jared Huffman (D-CA) of the Committee on Natural Resources led a letter with their Democratic Committee colleagues demanding that National Science Foundation (NSF) Acting Director Brian Stone immediately stop the administration’s illegal plan to dismantle NSF’s … Continue Reading
June 04, 2026Democratic Members Slam NSF for Covert Blacklisting of Universities
(Washington, DC) — Today, Science Committee Democratic Members sent a letter to National Science Foundation Acting Director Brian Stone demanding answers on NSF secretly blocking research grants to top universities. On May 27, 2026, it was reported in Nature that NSF had been blocking awards to Duke University, Harvard University, Princeton University, and Yale University since April 9, 2026. The Science Committee learned of this politicization of the grant awarding process from media reports … Continue Reading
May 29, 2026Ranking Member Lofgren Slams Trump Administration for Plan to Politicize Research Funding Process, Undermine Expert Review
(Washington, DC) — On Thursday, the White House released a proposal that would give political appointees at federal science agencies the role of approving all scientific research awards. Funding approval has historically been determined by apolitical expert scientists to ensure awards are merit-based and without bias. “With this proposed regulation, American leadership in science is dealt a fatal blow,” said Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren. “The Trump Administration has spent a year and a half … Continue Reading
May 21, 2026Ranking Member Lofgren Calls Out Trump Admin for Illegal Use of CHIPS and Science Funds
(Washington, DC) — Today, the Department of Commerce announced letters of intent totaling $2 billion in awards to nine U.S. companies for quantum technology. A single company will receive $1 billion. The funds were appropriated through the CHIPS and Science Act and were not intended for quantum technology. “This announcement is illegal and troubling on so many levels,” said Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA). “The administration is, once again, directly defying very clear direction from … Continue Reading
May 12, 2026House Democrats Condemn Termination of National Science Board Members
(Washington, DC) — Today, House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) led thirty-one Democratic Members in sending a letter to President Donald Trump regarding his legally dubious April 24, 2026, termination of all 22 Members of the National Science Board (NSB). The NSB advises Congress and the President on the activities of the National Science Foundation (NSF), and it has served this function since the creation of NSF in 1950. In their letter, the … Continue Reading
May 08, 2026Ranking Member Lofgren Appalled by White House Decision to Name Brian Hughes De Facto Head of Kennedy Space Center
(Washington, DC) - Today, Brian Hughes was named as the de facto Director of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Kennedy Space Center by the White House. Hughes, who led Trump’s 2024 presidential election campaign in Florida, has deep ties to the White House but no background or expertise in space launch systems. He served as NASA’s Chief of Staff from May to December of 2025. During his tenure, he illegally implemented Trump’s Fiscal Year 2026 Presidential Budget Request … Continue Reading
April 25, 2026Ranking Member Lofgren Reacts to Latest Trump Scheme to Undermine Science
(Washington, DC) - Science Committee Democratic staff have learned from multiple sources that President Trump has fired the entirety of the National Science Board (NSB). The purpose of the NSB is to advise Congress and the President on the activities of the National Science Foundation (NSF). NSB was established in the National Science Foundation Act of 1950. “This is the latest stupid move made by a president who continues to harm science and American innovation,” said Ranking Member Lofgren. … Continue Reading
April 17, 2026Science Committee Democratic Staff Report Reveals Details on NASA’s Illegal Implementation of Trump’s FY2026 Budget Request Without Congressional Approval
(Washington, DC) - Today, Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) released a Minority Staff Report detailing how the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) illegally implemented President Trump’s FY2026 budget request without Congressional approval. Upon release of the President’s budget request, under pressure from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), NASA immediately began shutting down and defunding programs targeted in the budget proposal, with no direction from Congress. “A … Continue Reading
April 10, 2026Ranking Member Lofgren Celebrates Successful Artemis II Return
(Washington, DC) — Today, the Artemis II Orion crew capsule, Integrity, carrying NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen successfully splashed down in the Pacific Ocean after its ten-day journey around the moon. The astronauts were safely recovered from the Orion capsule and will be transported to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. “Today’s successful completion of the Artemis II mission and safe return of our … Continue Reading
April 03, 2026Ranking Member Lofgren Blasts Trump Budget Request
(Washington, DC) - Today, the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) released the President’s budget request for fiscal year 2027. The budget request proposes massive cuts to science and innovation programs under the jurisdiction of the Science Committee. “This budget request should be ignored,” said Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA). “The only thing this twisted collection of so-called policies would do is fuel Trump’s war. It will stymie American science and innovation and hand … Continue Reading
April 01, 2026Ranking Member Lofgren Congratulates NASA and Partners after Successful Artemis II Launch
(Washington, DC) — Today, NASA’s Space Launch System and the Orion crew capsule carrying NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen successfully launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center to embark on its ten day journey. The Artemis II mission will take the astronauts to low Earth orbit to test out key systems before journeying toward and around moon for the first time in over 50 years. “Congratulations to NASA and its … Continue Reading
March 20, 2026Ranking Member Lofgren Raises Alarm Over Terms of Commerce Department Equity Stake in USA Rare Earth, Condemns Lutnick Conflict of Interest
(Washington, DC) - Yesterday, Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) sent a letter to Department of Commerce (DOC) Secretary Howard Lutnick condemning the Department’s proposed equity stake deal with USA Rare Earth, Inc. (USAR). The terms of the agreement raise serious concerns about the influence DOC will wield over USAR under the deal. These concerns are amplified by the involvement of Cantor Fitzgerald, a financial services firm controlled by Secretary Lutnick’s sons, in a parallel transaction … Continue Reading