Committee Leaders Unsatisfied with NASA Response Regarding DOGE Access, Demand More Information
Washington, DC - Today, Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics Ranking Member Valerie Foushee (NC-4), and Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight Ranking Member Emilia Sykes (OH-13) sent a letter to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) further investigating DOGE’s potential to inflict harm on the agency and its mission. The Members sent their first letter to NASA regarding the threat of DOGE on February 6. NASA responded to that … Continue Reading
February 18, 2025Committee Leaders Demand Commerce Secretary Lutnick Protect Employees From Musk’s Mindless DOGE Firings
Washington, DC - Today, Committee Leaders Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Subcommittee on Environment Ranking Member Gabe Amo (D-RI), and Subcommittee on Research and Technology Ranking Member Haley Stevens (D-MI) sent a letter to Department of Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick immediately following his Senate confirmation demanding that Commerce employees be protected from Co-Presidents Trump and Musk’s mindless firings. “We write to you with the urgent request that Department of Commerce (DOC) … Continue Reading
February 18, 2025Committee Leaders Lofgren and Stevens Statement on NSF Employee Firings by DOGE
Washington, DC - Today, the National Science Foundation (NSF) fired 168 individuals, including probationary employees and expert appointments. This is the next science agency to cave to the demands of Co-President Elon Musk’s DOGE to terminate employees across the government. “This Administration’s relentless attack on science is a disgrace and international embarrassment,” said Ranking Members Lofgren and Stevens. “Indiscriminately firing 10% of NSF’s workforce today is a massive mistake … Continue Reading
February 14, 2025Ranking Member Lofgren Blasts Co-Presidents Trump and Musk for Mindless Federal Workforce Firings
WASHINGTON, DC—Since Thursday evening, Elon Musk and DOGE have been carrying out indiscriminate terminations of individuals in key programs across the federal government. Some employees have been rehired after the Administration realized their roles are key to national security. “Mindlessly purging the government of its workforce will put Americans in danger,” said Ranking Member Lofgren. “Without any transparency of DOGE—by design, it seems—it’s hard to understand the decision process of … Continue Reading
February 10, 2025Committee Leaders Stress to NOAA the Threat of Elon Musk, Demand Answers on DOGE Access to Crucial Data Systems
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Ranking Members Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), Gabe Amo (RI-1) of the Subcommittee on Environment, and Emilia Sykes (OH-13) of the Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight sent a letter to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) demanding answers on the safety and status of sensitive data possessed by the agency. “We have observed, with great alarm, the shocking disregard for data privacy and security protocols exhibited by personnel associated with the … Continue Reading
February 10, 2025Committee Leaders Stress to DOE the Threat of Elon Musk, Demand Answers on DOGE Access to Classified and Proprietary Data
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Ranking Members Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), Deborah Ross (NC-2) of the Subcommittee on Energy, and Emilia Sykes (OH-13) of the Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight sent a letter to the Department of Energy (DOE) demanding answers on the safety and status of sensitive and proprietary data possessed by the department. “We have observed, with great alarm, the shocking disregard for data privacy and security protocols exhibited by personnel associated with the so-called … Continue Reading
February 09, 2025Committee Leaders Lofgren and Foushee Call Out Trump's NASA for Alleged Employee Censorship
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Ranking Members Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) and Valerie Foushee (D-NC) issued the following statement after reporting from NASA Watch alleged that employees at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Headquarters in Washington have been directed to remove symbols aligned with or celebrating the LGBTQ+ community. According to the reporting, employees are prohibited from displaying anything related to pride in their office, including lapel pins, badge lanyards, … Continue Reading
February 06, 2025Committee Leaders Stress to NASA the Threat of Elon Musk, Demand Answers on Whether DOGE Has Made Contact
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Ranking Members Zoe Lofgren (CA-18) and Valerie Foushee (NC-04) sent a letter to NASA demanding answers on the safety and status of sensitive data and whether DOGE has made contact with the space agency. "We have observed, with great alarm, the shocking disregard for data privacy and security protocols exhibited by personnel associated with the so-called 'Department of Government Efficiency,' or DOGE, the Ranking Members said in the letter. "The executive order that … Continue Reading
February 05, 2025Science Committee Democrats Organize and Announce Subcommittee Ranking Members
(WASHINGTON, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology met to organize and adopt Committee Rules. “With our Committee now organized, we’re ready to hit the ground running,” said Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA). “I want to extend my congratulations to each of our Subcommittee Ranking Members. As the lead Democrat on the Committee, I am laser-focused on sticking up for federal science. Since Inauguration Day, the Trump Administration has been working hard to crumble … Continue Reading
February 04, 2025Ranking Members Huffman, Lofgren Sound the Alarm on Musk’s Invasion at Key Science Agency
(WASHINGTON, DC) - Today, U.S. House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Jared Huffman (CA-02) and Science, Space, and Technology Committee Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (CA-18) issued the following statement: “Elon Musk and his DOGE hackers are ransacking their way through the federal government, unlawfully gaining unfettered access to Americans’ private information and gutting programs people depend on. Now they have reached NOAA where they’re wreaking havoc on the scientific and … Continue Reading
February 03, 2025Ranking Member Lofgren Seeks to Understand Damage to Science Agencies as Result of Trump’s Reckless Executive Orders
(WASHINGTON, DC) - On Sunday, Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren sent a series of letters to several agencies under the Science Committee’s jurisdiction demanding answers regarding each agency’s implementation of the President’s Executive Orders attacking diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts within the federal scientific enterprise. The letters were sent to the Department of Energy (DOE), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the National Institute of Standards and Technology … Continue Reading
January 28, 2025Ranking Member Lofgren's Statement on Trump Administration Unlawful Freeze of Federal Funds
(WASHINGTON, DC) - On Monday, the Trump Administration announced its intention to freeze federal grants and loans. Thousands of programs have been identified to be at risk, including those at DOE, NASA, NSF, EPA, and NOAA. “This unlawful impoundment is an attack on the American taxpayer," said Ranking Member Lofgren. "We’re following closely what this may mean for our country. The Trump Administration has, I assume, purposefully made this rollout confusing and chaotic. “Here’s what we do … Continue Reading
January 25, 2025Ranking Member Lofgren Reacts to Trump’s Illegal Firings of Inspectors General
(WASHINGTON, DC) - Late last night, the President fired the inspectors general (IGs) of at least twelve federal agencies. “Friday night’s mass firing of IGs is wrong,” said Ranking Member Lofgren. “Inspectors general are crucial to fighting waste, fraud, and abuse in our government. IGs operate independently and are meant to be nonpartisan agency watchdogs. In fact, these attempted firings appear to be illegal. We in Congress must push back against this. As Ranking Member of the Science … Continue Reading
January 25, 2025ICYMI: Rebuking Late-night Purge of Inspectors General, House Democratic Ranking Members Demand President Trump Comply with the Law
(WASHINGTON, DC) - Today, Rep. Gerald E. Connolly, Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, led House Committee Ranking Members in a letter to President Donald Trump condemning his attempted late-night purge of at least 12 independent inspectors general, which appears to have violated federal law designed to protect their work from political interference and intimidation. The Ranking Members wrote: “We write to express our grave concern about your recent attempt to … Continue Reading
January 22, 2025Ranking Member Lofgren Blasts Trump Administration for Gutting Diversity Efforts Across Federal Government
(WASHINGTON, DC) — In his first hours as President, Donald Trump has released a series of sweeping executive orders that dismantle federal efforts to support diversity, equity, and inclusion. “Trump’s dismantling of diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts across the federal government is just plain wrong,” said Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren. “For years, we have been working to create a STEM workforce that more accurately represents the rich diversity and intellectual capacity of our nation. … Continue Reading
January 15, 2025Ranking Member Lofgren Welcomes New and Returning Members to the Committee
(WASHINGTON, DC) - Yesterday, the Democratic Caucus approved the appointments of Members to serve on the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. “I’m delighted to welcome our new and returning Members to the Science Committee,” said Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA). “Each member brings invaluable experience to our committee, and I’m excited to get to work with them. My predecessor, the late Eddie Bernice Johnson, often referred to our committee as ‘the Committee of the Future.’ With … Continue Reading
December 18, 2024Ranking Member Lofgren's Statement on Being Selected to Continue Leading Science Committee Democrats
(WASHINGTON, DC) - Today, Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) was selected by the House Democratic Caucus to continue her leadership of House Science, Space, and Technology Democrats. “It is an honor to be elected to serve as Ranking Member of the Science Committee for the 119th Congress,” said Ranking Member Lofgren. “This Committee is well known for its commitment to bipartisanship and our record this past Congress is proof of that. Science should not be partisan; and our accomplishments are … Continue Reading
November 01, 2024Ranking Member Lofgren Celebrates Selection of California for Semiconductor Design Facility
(San Jose, CA) -- Today, the Department of Commerce and Natcast, the operator of the National Semiconductor Technology Center (NSTC), announced the CHIPS for America Administrative and Design Facility will be located in Sunnyvale, California. This center will serve as the administrative headquarters of the NSTC and will focus in advanced research in chip design, chip and system architecture, and hardware security. The NSTC was created in the CHIPS and Science Act to maintain and improve the … Continue Reading
October 14, 2024Ranking Members Lofgren and Sorensen Celebrate Successful Launch of Europa Clipper
(WASHINGTON, DC) -- Today, the Europa Clipper spacecraft launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Kennedy Space Center. Europa Clipper will travel 1.8 billion miles to Jupiter’s icy moon, Europa. The spacecraft is slated to reach Jupiter in April 2030. “Constructing a highly capable spacecraft designed to withstand the harsh radiation environment of Jupiter and carry out the first in-depth study of Europa was no easy feat,” … Continue Reading
October 11, 2024Ranking Member Lofgren Congratulates Nobel Prize Recipients
(SAN JOSE, CA) - This week, the Nobel Prizes were announced. These awards honor their recipient's groundbreaking work in their respective fields. “Congratulations to this year’s Nobel Prize laureates,” said Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA). “The Nobel Prize is an important reminder of how critical federal funding for research and development is to building a brighter future for all. The research that led to many of the awardees’ groundbreaking discoveries was powered by federal grants. … Continue Reading