Ranking Member Lofgren's Statement on NSF Director Panchanathan's Resignation
“For much of the last five years, Director Panchanathan led the National Science Foundation through an era of great progress. In his letter of resignation, he notes the accomplishments of his tenure, including implementing provisions of the landmark CHIPS & Science Act, adapting to the generational challenge of COVID, and tackling the pervasive issue of sexual harassment and assault in STEM. In the last three months, things have been far bleaker at NSF. Hundreds of meritorious grants have … Continue Reading
April 22, 2025Ranking Member Lofgren's Statement on Earth Day
(Washington, DC) - Today is the 55th celebration of Earth Day. “The Trump administration will stop at nothing to decimate our environment and destroy the progress we have made in fighting the climate crisis,” said Ranking Member Lofgren (CA-18). “From dismantling critical climate monitoring programs at agencies like NOAA and NASA to plans to gut environmental research and development at the EPA that keep harmful chemicals out of our air, soil, and water—it seems Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s … Continue Reading
April 18, 2025Ranking Member Lofgren’s Statement on NSF Terminating Awards
(Washington, DC) - Today, the National Science Foundation (NSF) announced it was terminating awards “not aligned with NSF's priorities,” including awards relating to diversity, equity, and inclusion and misinformation/disinformation. This cancellation comes the day after Ranking Member Lofgren transmitted a letter and Minority Staff Report to NSF Director Panchanathan stressing the importance of protecting the Foundation’s gold-standard merit review process. “Director Panchanathan suggests … Continue Reading
April 17, 2025Ranking Member Lofgren Urges NSF to Ignore Inflammatory Cruz Report, Releases Democratic Staff Report in Rebuttal
(Washington, DC) - Today, Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (CA-18) sent a letter to National Science Foundation Director Sethuraman Panchanathan urging the Director to disregard Senator Ted Cruz’s inflammatory report in any NSF grantmaking decisions. In addition to the letter, the Ranking Member also transmitted a Minority Staff Report that details how Senator Cruz’s report is deeply flawed, and his demand for grant cancellations is therefore misinformed. “I write to you to convey my assessment of … Continue Reading
April 16, 2025Ranking Member Lofgren's Statement on Degraded Services at Weather Forecasting Offices as a Result of Trump Firings
(Washington, DC) - Today, the New York Times reported that the National Weather Service (NWS) is planning for “degraded operations” due to cuts to the workforce made by the Trump administration. The reporting references an agency document, which has been reviewed by Science Committee Democratic Staff, that details contingency plans for the strained workforce at the nation’s 122 Weather Forecasting Offices (WFO). “This confirms what Democrats have pointed out since Trump took office,” … Continue Reading
April 11, 2025Ranking Member Lofgren Condemns Trump Administration's Plan to Slash Support for NASA
(Washington, DC) - Today, various reporting has detailed the Trump Administration’s plan to slash funding and eliminate crucial functions of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). According to reporting, the cuts significantly impact NASA’s Science Mission Directorate (SMD), nearly halving SMD’s budget. "President Trump and OMB Director Vought are proposing a slash and burn of NASA’s world-leading science programs," said Ranking Member Lofgren (CA-18). "Effectuating these … Continue Reading
April 11, 2025Ranking Member Lofgren Blasts Trump Administration’s Reckless Budget Plan for NOAA
The plan eliminates NOAA’s research arm, which is crucial for life-saving, accurate forecasting. (Washington, DC) - Today, various reporting has detailed the Trump Administration’s plan to slash funding and eliminate crucial functions of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The plan, which has been reviewed by Science Committee Democratic Staff, notably decimates NOAA’s research capabilities by eliminating the Agency’s Oceanic and Atmospheric Research line office. … Continue Reading
April 08, 2025Committee Leaders Demand Answers from NASA on DOGE Access After the Agency Refuses to Comply with Investigation
(Washington, DC) - Today, Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), Ranking Member Valerie Foushee (NC-4) of the Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics, and Ranking Member Emilia Sykes (OH-13) of the Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight sent a letter to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), continuing their months-long investigation regarding DOGE personnel and their access to sensitive data and systems at the Agency. In today’s letter, the Members double down on their … Continue Reading
April 04, 2025Lofgren and Amo Condemn Trump Administration Plan to Shut Down NOAA Research Websites and Their Data
The members call out the administration for its latest attempt to censor science and demand the websites be saved. (Washington, DC) - Last night, reporting revealed that the Trump administration plans to shut down websites associated with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) research division. President Trump and Commerce Secretary Lutnick plan to cancel the contracts of webservers that support these websites. If the websites are eliminated, the climate and weather … Continue Reading
April 03, 2025House Energy Leaders Call for Investigation into Department of Energy’s Scheme to Cancel Awards and Contracts
DeLauro, Kaptur, Pallone, Castor, Lofgren, Ross Raise Concerns that Trump Administration is Contributing to Rising Prices and Targeting Democratic-Leaning States and Districts Washington, D.C. — Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (CT-03); Appropriations Energy and Water Development Subcommittee Ranking Member Marcy Kaptur (OH-09); Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06); Energy and Commerce Energy Subcommittee Ranking Member Kathy Castor … Continue Reading
April 02, 2025Science Committee Members Blast Trump Administration for its Attack on American Manufacturing
(Washington, DC) - Yesterday, funds for ten of the 51 centers that make up the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST) Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) were withheld by the Trump administration. The ten centers are in the following states: Delaware, Hawaii, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, and Wyoming. The Trump administration has notified these centers that they will no longer receive funding, effectively ending the programs. It is … Continue Reading
March 29, 2025Ranking Member Lofgren Reacts to the President's Move to Destroy Union Rights
Washington, DC - On Thursday, the president signed an executive order that seeks to end collective bargaining at several federal agencies. "This latest assault on federal workers is especially egregious,” said Ranking Member Lofgren (CA-18). “Trump and DOGE are having trouble getting their way as Democrats and federal courts work to stop their extremely unpopular sweeping attacks on federal institutions. Childishly, Trump is trying to change a decades-old agreement to get his way and strip … Continue Reading
March 28, 2025Ranking Member Lofgren Reacts to EPA Offering Companies Permission to Pollute
Lofgren warns companies thinking of taking advantage of an offer to pollute. Washington, DC - The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has begun a campaign that will allow polluting companies to apply for exemptions of regulations in the Clean Air Act. On the EPA website, where companies can use an EPA-provided template to apply to bypass clean air regulations, it states that exemptions will be decided by the president. … Continue Reading
March 27, 2025Committee Members Demand EPA Administrator Stop Plans to Close Office of Research and Development
Washington, DC - Yesterday, Democratic Science Committee Members sent a letter to Environmental Protection Agency Administrator (EPA) Zeldin demanding that he cease any plans to weaken or shutter EPA’s Office of Research and Development (ORD). The EPA, along with other federal agencies, was ordered by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to submit an Agency RIF and Reorganization Plan (ARRP) to OMB in early March. In EPA’s Reduction in Force (RIF) plan, the agency made a proposal to … Continue Reading
March 26, 2025Committee Leaders Demand Reversal of NOAA Space Commerce Office Firings
Washington, DC - Last week, Committee leaders sent a letter to Department of Commerce Secretary Lutnick demanding that the firings of probationary employees at NOAA’s Office of Space Commerce be reversed. NOAA’s OSC is essential for the continued growth of America’s burgeoning commercial space sector. The letter was signed by Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics Ranking Member Valerie Foushee (NC-4), and Investigations and Oversight Subcommittee Ranking … Continue Reading
March 20, 2025Ranking Member Lofgren Blasts Trump Administration for Dismantling Department of Education
Washington, DC - Today, the president signed an executive order to dismantle the Department of Education. “Dismantling public education is the latest massive mistake made by the Trump administration,” said Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (CA-18). “Our young Americans are our future. Without access to the critical public school programs that enable success, they may falter. We cannot lead the world in science and technology development if we have an uneducated workforce. Trump is stealing the … Continue Reading
March 19, 2025Committee Leaders Introduce Bills to Stop Trump & Musk’s Reckless Firings of Critical Federal Workforce
Washington, DC - Yesterday, Science Committee leaders introduced bills that would institute a moratorium on reductions in force (RIF) at federal science agencies under the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s jurisdiction. Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren sponsored the bills. Ranking Member Haley Stevens of the Subcommittee on Research and Technology, Ranking Member Deborah Ross of the Subcommittee on Energy, Ranking Member Valerie Foushee of the Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics, and … Continue Reading
March 14, 2025Committee Leaders Huffman, Lofgren, Dexter, and Amo Demand Information on NOAA Lease Terminations
The leaders released a list of 34 office leases identified by the Trump administration to be up for termination, along with the target closure dates. Washington, DC - Yesterday, Committee on Natural Resources (HNR) Ranking Member Jared Huffman (CA-2), Committee on Science, Space, and Technology (SST) Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), HNR Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight Ranking Member Maxine Dexter (OR-3), and SST Subcommittee on Environment Ranking Member Gabe Amo (RI-1) sent a … Continue Reading
March 13, 2025Ranking Member Lofgren Calls Trump Administration Out for Risking Public Health with Endangerment Finding Reconsideration
Washington, DC - Yesterday, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced they would begin the reconsideration of the EPA’s 2009 Endangerment Finding. The finding was finalized in 2009 and concluded that greenhouse gases in the atmosphere threaten the public health and welfare of current and future generations. This is a major blow to science-based efforts to address the consequences of climate change. “Call this what it is: climate denial, plain and simple," said Ranking Member Zoe … Continue Reading
March 11, 2025Committee Leaders Demand Information from Trump Administration on Forthcoming DOGE RIFs, Implore Agency Leaders to Protect Mission
Washington, DC - Today, Science Committee leaders sent letters to the Department of Energy, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the National Science Foundation, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration demanding that the agencies disclose their reduction in force (RIF) plans with the Committee immediately. Per the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) February 26th memo, the Trump administration is requiring … Continue Reading