Ranking 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
March 18, 2026Ranking Member Lofgren Applauds Committee Passage of NOAA Weather Radio Modernization Act
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology passed H.R. 7813, NOAA Weather Radio Modernization Act, during a full committee markup. This important legislation will direct the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to modernize and expand a nationwide Weather Radio network, provide emergency alerts, and remain resilient during emergencies. “When every second counts, it is essential for the U.S. to have a reliable Weather Radio network,” said … Continue Reading
March 17, 2026House Committees on Science, Space, and Technology and Small Business Celebrate Passage of SBIR/STTR Reauthorization Bill on the House Floor
(Washington, DC) - Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed S. 3971, the Small Business Innovation and Economic Security Act, under suspension, favorably out of the chamber. The bill will now head to the President’s desk. Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Technology Transfer (STTR) programs expired on September 30, 2025, following the Senate’s failure to pass the House’s clean, one-year extension. Legislation extending the SBIR/STTR programs was introduced by Small … Continue Reading
February 27, 2026Ranking Member Lofgren Appalled by Trump Administration’s Attacks on Anthropic
(Washington, DC) - Today, the Trump administration ordered federal agencies to stop using technology from the artificial intelligence company Anthropic immediately. Anthropic’s Claude AI model has been heavily integrated into the Pentagon’s operations. When the Trump administration demanded unrestricted access to Anthropic’s technologies, the AI company refused to comply out of fear that its services would be used for mass domestic surveillance and the development of lethal weapons that … Continue Reading
February 25, 2026SST Committee Leaders Urge FCC to Narrow "Space Modernization" Proposal
(Washington, DC) - Today, House Science, Space, and Technology Committee Chairman Brian Babin and Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren sent a letter to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) raising concerns about the agency’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) titled "Space Modernization for the 21st Century," and urging the Commission to withdraw or substantially narrow the proposal to remain within its statutory authority. In the letter to FCC Chairman Carr, the bipartisan leaders express … Continue Reading
February 24, 2026Chairman Babin, Ranking Member Lofgren Applaud House Passage of Bipartisan SST Committee Bills
(Washington, DC) - Yesterday, three bipartisan bills from the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee passed the House. These important pieces of legislation will strengthen America’s leadership in emerging scientific fields, enhance wildfire response through cutting-edge technologies, and advance innovation in forecasting and emergency operations. "Yesterday's House passage of the ACERO Act, the Small Business Artificial Intelligence Advancement Act, and the ASCEND Act reflects our … Continue Reading
February 20, 2026Science Democrats Concerned Over Reports of Problematic NIST Policy for Foreign Researchers
(Washington, DC) - Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) and Rep. April McClain Delaney (D-MD) sent a letter to National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Acting Under Secretary Craig Burkhardt demanding answers regarding rumors that NIST has begun taking steps to implement a policy that would limit the ability of foreign-born researchers to conduct their work at NIST. An article was published on February 12, 2026, describing an alleged new three-year limit on international graduate … Continue Reading
February 20, 2026Ranking Member Lofgren Statement on Program Investigation Team Report for Starliner Crewed Flight Test
(Washington, DC) - Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) made the following statement on the NASA Program Investigation Team report for the Starliner crewed flight test: “While I am still reviewing the Program Investigation Team report released today on the Starliner crewed flight test, I am deeply concerned about the breach of NASA’s safety culture. The fact that the risks could have led to catastrophe and the loss of our dedicated NASA astronauts is alarming. It is imperative that NASA and … Continue Reading
February 13, 2026Ranking Members Lofgren and Amo Slam EPA for Elimination of Office of Research and Development
(Washington, DC) - Today, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) notified Congress of the elimination of the Office of Research and Development (ORD) - the office that develops the best available science and methods for EPA’s use in decision making for protecting public health and the environment. “The Trump Administration’s attack on science is disastrous. Without a doubt, the American people will be harmed by this Administration’s reckless decisions,” said Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren, … Continue Reading
February 12, 2026Ranking Member Lofgren Calls for Lutnick Resignation for Relationship to Epstein
(Washington, DC) - Today, Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) sent a letter to Department of Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick demanding his resignation following the publication of evidence of his relationship with the notorious child sex trafficker, Jeffrey Epstein. Mr. Lutnick previously denied any association with Jeffrey Epstein, however, the recently released Epstein files mention Mr. Lutnick 223 times, and they reveal that Mr. Lutnick interacted with Epstein multiple times after he … Continue Reading
February 12, 2026Ranking Member Lofgren Slams EPA for Repeal of Endangerment Finding
(Washington, DC) - Today, Trump and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin announced the EPA’s repeal of the Endangerment Finding—a 2009 finding that concluded greenhouse gases in the atmosphere threaten the public health and welfare of current and future generations. “The Trump Administration’s repeal of the Endangerment Finding is beyond senseless,” said Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA). “Science Committee Democrats, climate scientists, environmental researchers, … Continue Reading
February 04, 2026SST Committee Passes the NASA Reauthorization Act of 2026
(Washington, D.C.) - Today, the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee passed H.R. 7273, the NASA Reauthorization Act of 2026, during a full committee markup. This important legislation, led by Chairman Brian Babin and Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren, strengthens America’s leadership in space by providing clear direction for NASA and supporting critical programs and initiatives that will keep our nation at the forefront of exploration and discovery well into the future. “Today’s passage of … Continue Reading
January 24, 2026Ranking Member Lofgren Condemns Climate Working Group Sham
(Washington, DC) - The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) and Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) publicly released a large trove of records obtained as a result of their joint lawsuit against the Department of Energy (DOE). The lawsuit alleged that DOE violated the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) when it gathered a group of 5 notorious climate deniers to create the "Climate Working Group" (CWG) and charged the CWG in secret with preparing a report that claimed to debunk established … Continue Reading
January 22, 2026Ranking Member Lofgren Statement on NASA Day of Remembrance
(Washington, DC) - Today marks the annual NASA Day of Remembrance, a day to honor the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in the pursuit of advancing our nation’s space program. Established after the Apollo 1 fire in 1967, the observance solemnly commemorates the heroes of the Apollo 1, Space Shuttle Challenger (STS-51L), and Space Shuttle Columbia (STS-107) tragedies. Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) made the following statement: “Each January, we pause to honor the men and women … Continue Reading
January 16, 2026Science Democrats Slam Musk for Grok's Creation of Illicit Images
(Washington, DC) - Today, Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) and Science Committee Democrats sent a letter to Elon Musk demanding answers as to why Musk permitted Grok, a generative AI tool created and controlled by Musk, to create and disseminate nonconsensual sexualized photos of women and children. The Grok AI model has created thousands of images that constitute revenge porn and Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) viewable and sharable by anyone. Countries such as the United Kingdom have … Continue Reading
December 19, 2025Lofgren Slams RFK Jr. for Disgraceful Plan to Fund Unethical Research on Infants in Guinea-Bissau
(Washington, DC) - Today, it came to light that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) plans to provide funding for a group with proven ties to the U.S. anti-vaccine movement to conduct research on the Hepatitis B vaccine, using infants in Guinea-Bissau as its test subjects. This study comes after the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, which now includes several vaccine skeptics, eliminated long-standing recommendations for Hepatitis B vaccines for newborns. The … Continue Reading
December 18, 2025Science Democrats Condemn Illegal Elimination of the Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations
(Washington, DC) - Today, Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) and Science Committee Democratic Members sent a letter to Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Chris Wright condemning the illegal elimination of the Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED). OCED was created by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) with the purpose of cultivating the expertise required to provide high-quality, technology-independent management for large, commercially focused energy demonstration … Continue Reading
December 17, 2025Ranking Member Lofgren Condemns Trump Administration’s Threat to Dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research
(Washington, DC) - Yesterday, the Trump Administration’s threat to dismantle the National Science Foundation's National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), located in Boulder, CO, came to light. NCAR is a world-leading research center for fundamental and applied Earth system science and is responsible for critical research on weather prediction and natural disaster preparation. The Trump Administration has falsely cited “green new scam research activities” as its motive for dismantling … Continue Reading
December 17, 2025Ranking Members Lofgren and Stevens Demand Answers on Terminated SMART USA Institute
(Washington, DC) - Today, Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) and Research and Technology Subcommittee Ranking Member Haley Stevens (D-MI) sent a letter to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Acting Under Secretary Craig Burkhardt demanding an explanation for the termination of SMART USA Institute, a semiconductor research and development program authorized by Congress through the CHIPS and Science Act. “We worry that NIST’s arbitrary and capricious decisions to terminate … Continue Reading
December 11, 2025Ranking Member Lofgren Slams Trump White House for Illegal Plan to Undermine State AI Laws
(Washington, DC) - Today, the Trump White House issued an executive order that would target states that pass laws to govern the development and use of artificial intelligence (AI) with lawsuits and terminated funding. “This executive order is not lawful” said Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA). “If the President really wants to address contradictory state laws, he can work with Congress on both sides of the aisle to debate and pass a federal standard. Unfortunately, the Republicans in Congress … Continue Reading