Ranking Members Lofgren and Larsen Call on Trump Administration to Reinstate Canceled Bipartisan Transportation R&D and Workforce Grants
(Washington, DC) - Today, Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology and Ranking Member Rick Larsen of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure sent a letter to Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Sean Duffy imploring the Trump administration to reinstate transportation research and development grants to University Transportation Centers (UTCs) after seven were canceled in early May. The bipartisan UTC program was established in … Continue Reading
May 28, 2025Ranking Member Lofgren Invites Individuals Whose Grants Have Been Canceled by Trump to Share Their Experience
(Washington, DC) - Today, Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) launched a submission form on the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology - Democrats’ website where individuals whose grants have been canceled by the Trump administration can share their experience. “Trump’s attack on science has been nonstop," said Ranking Member Lofgren. "In an effort to better understand the impact of his reckless assault on our scientific enterprise, Science Committee Democrats have launched a submission … Continue Reading
May 27, 2025Science Committee Leaders Demand Answers on Trump Administration’s Illegal Scheme to Shutter EPA ORD Labs
(Washington, DC) - Today, Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) and Environment Subcommittee Ranking Member Gabe Amo (D-RI) sent a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin demanding answers on EPA’s plan to shut down its research laboratories. In March, Science Committee Democratic staff reviewed an excerpt of EPA’s Agency Reduction in Force (RIF) and Reorganization Plan (ARRP). The excerpt revealed that EPA intends to shut down its Office of Research and … Continue Reading
May 19, 2025Ranking Members Lofgren and Amo Implore Trump Administration to End Reckless Hiring Freeze at NWS
(Washington, DC) - Today, Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) and Environment Subcommittee Ranking Member Gabe Amo (D-RI) sent a letter to Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought imploring the White House to grant a public safety exemption for the National Weather Service (NWS) and immediately lift the hiring freeze keeping the agency from hiring individuals to fill vacancies at woefully understaffed NWS forecasting offices. Currently, the Trump administration has a hiring freeze … Continue Reading
May 14, 2025Science Committee Democrats Hold Roundtable After Trump Administration Cancels NOAA's Billion Dollar Disaster Report
(Washington, DC) - Today, Democratic Members of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology hosted a roundtable to discuss the Trump administration's cancellation of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Billion-Dollar Disasters Report. During the roundtable, Investigations and Oversight Subcommittee Ranking Member Emilia Sykes (D-OH), Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Environment Subcommittee Ranking Member Gabe Amo (D-RI), and Congresswoman Luz Rivas (D-CA) … Continue Reading
May 08, 2025Science Committee Members Demand Answers from NSF on Award Terminations and Reckless Policy Actions
(Washington, DC) - Today, Members of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology sent a letter to Brian Stone, Acting Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF). In the letter, the Members detail the turmoil that has taken place at NSF since the Trump administration began, including the termination of awards that total over one billion dollars. The Members demand answers on how decisions are being made at NSF and call into question the legality of the actions the Trump … Continue Reading
May 06, 2025HASC, SST Democrats Demand Answers on Potential SpaceX, Musk Conflicts of Interest and Alleged Chinese Investment Cover-Ups
(Washington, DC) - U.S. Representatives Adam Smith (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee; Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee; Seth Moulton (D-Mass.), Ranking Member of the Strategic Forces Subcommittee; and Valerie Foushee (D-NC), Ranking Member of the Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee sent a letter today to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Acting Administrator for NASA, Janet Petro, highlighting concerns … Continue Reading
May 05, 2025Ranking Member Lofgren Sends Letter to OSTP Director Kratsios after Dismissal of Climate Assessment Scientists
(Washington, DC) - Today, Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) sent a letter to Director Michael Kratsios of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) regarding the dismissal of hundreds of scientists working on the forthcoming National Climate Assessment (NCA). In the letter, Ranking Member Lofgren wrote, “This decision encapsulates many of the ongoing themes of this Administration - it sets the stage for a violation of the law, it guts federal scientific capabilities, and … Continue Reading
May 05, 2025Top Committee Leaders Press Energy Department for Answers on Detrimental Departmental Policies and Unlawful Funding Freeze—Following Up on Repeated Requests
Washington, D.C. — Today, the top Democrats in Congress with oversight over the Department of Energy (DOE) sent a letter to Secretary Chris Wright demanding information the Department has thus far failed to provide about its suspension of critical energy programs, cancellation of awards and contracts, mass reductions in force, and other detrimental actions. In their letter, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee; Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Ranking … Continue Reading
May 02, 2025Ranking Member Lofgren Reacts to Trump Administration Plan to Gut EPA ORD
(Washington, DC) - Today, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) laid out its plan to gut the EPA’s Office of Research and Development (ORD). Plans to dismantle EPA ORD were first revealed in a document reviewed by Science Committee Democratic Staff in March and reported by the New York Times. EPA ORD is critical to American public health and is tasked with conducting the science and research that enables the EPA to make life-saving decisions on toxins and chemicals in the environment. “By … Continue Reading
May 02, 2025Committee Leaders Demand Answers After NOAA Complaints Reveal Firings Decisions Came from Outside of NOAA Leadership
(Washington, DC) - Yesterday, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology Ranking Members Lofgren (CA-18), Sykes (OH-13), and Amo (RI-1) sent a letter to NOAA Acting Administrator Grimm demanding answers on who exactly is in charge at NOAA after a document reviewed by the Committee has raised questions on where authority lies at the agency. According to a document obtained by the Committee, Vice Admiral Nancy Hann submitted responses to a series of questions posed to her by the NOAA Office of … Continue Reading
May 02, 2025Ranking Member Lofgren Blasts Trump Administration for Short-Sighted Budget Proposal
(Washington, DC) - Today, the Trump White House released its skinny budget. The proposed budget includes major cuts across Science Committee jurisdiction. "This budget spells disaster for our nation’s science enterprise - and with it, our economic and national security future," said Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (CA-18). "The president obviously doesn’t understand that without robust American science, America will lose - plain and simple. For decades, we have worked on a bipartisan basis to … Continue Reading
April 24, 2025Ranking 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