The Bridge: Connecting Science and Policy

May 9, 2025

AGU joins letter in support of the USGS Ecosystems Mission Area

On 30 April 2025, AGU joined a number of professional societies in support for funding of the USGS’s Ecosystem’s Mission Area sent to the Secretary of the Interior. Our organizations write in full support of the USGS Ecosystems Mission Area. We urge you to fully fund the Ecosystems Mission Area (EMA) at the same FY25 funding level in the FY26 federal budget for the agency to continue its critical …

March 26, 2025

AGU sends letter to House leadership with deep concern for the DETERRENT Act

On 25 March, AGU sent a letter to House leadership expressing concern over the DETERRENT Act. On behalf of the American Geophysical Union (AGU) and our global community of more than half a million in the Earth and space sciences, I write to express our deep concerns regarding H.R.1048, the “Defending Education Transparency and Ending Rogue Regimes Engaging in Nefarious Transactions” (DETERRENT) Act. While we support efforts to enhance …

March 6, 2025

AGU joins letter of support to the science community

AGU joined a coalition of other science societies and organizations to rally around the scince community in support of their work. TO THE RESEARCHERS, EDUCATORS, AND ACADEMICS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, YOUR WORK IS NEEDED NOW MORE THAN EVER. American science and innovation have advanced humanity for generations. The pursuit of science has led to humanity’s greatest advances, improving people’s lives and the health of our planet. But …

AGU joins letter asking Congress to oppose attacks on the U.S. scientific enterprise

On 4 March 2025, AGU joined a letter to Congressional leadership requesting congress rejects the current Administration’s policies harming the U.S. scientific enterprise. Recent actions have disrupted vital scientific research, impeded scientific meetings and review panels, delayed salary payments for students and postdocs, dismantled key workforce development programs, and caused the unnecessary loss of vital experts from federal research agencies. On behalf of the undersigned scientific societies and organizations, …

AGU joins letter with the Council of Professional Associations on Federal Statistics opposing removal of federal data

On 11 February, AGU joined a letter to Congressional leadership expressing concern and strong opposition to the removal of public data from federal websites. Removing or curtailing access to these data, even temporarily, erodes the public trust that federal statistical and scientific agencies have earned. We, the undersigned organizations and individuals, write to express our concern and strong opposition to the recent incidents in which public data have been …

AGU joins other science societies to comment on FCC satellite rulemaking

On 28 February, AGU joined several other science societies to provide comments on the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau’s Public Notice that seeks to supplement the record in this rulemaking proceeding on a proposal to re-allocate the 1675-1680 MHz band for shared use between incumbent federal operations and non-federal fixed or mobile operations on a co-primary basis. See the full letter with signatories and citations here.

AGU endorses RESEARCHER Act

On 28 February, AGU sent a letter to science committee leadership in the House and Senate once again endorsing the RESEARCHER Act. Our nation’s graduate and postdoctoral researchers often face considerable economic challenges while pursuing a career in higher education and research, and we support the goals of this legislation to address those challenges. Read the full letter: On behalf of the American Geophysical Union (AGU) and our global …

February 28, 2025

AGU joins nearly 500 organizations to oppose dismantling of NOAA

On 25 February, AGU joined nearly 500 businesses, organizations, and institutions in a letter to Congress to urge them to oppose cuts to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). See the letter below: Dear Members of Congress, The businesses, organizations, and institutions signed below strongly urge you to oppose actions by the Trump administration to dismantle, privatize, or significantly diminish the critical services and functions of the National Oceanic …

August 1, 2024

AGU endorses the FORECASTS Tracking Act

On 30 July, AGU and its coalition partners in Friends of NOAA sent a letter to Senator Ed Markey’s office (D-MA) endorsing the Forecasting Optimization for Robust Earth Climate Analysis and Subseasonal to Seasonal (FORECASTS) Tracking Act of 2024. This legislation continues to progress the work done by Congress in the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 by providing funding for essential activities at the National Oceanic and …

July 9, 2024

AGU joins letter requesting planes needed for Arctic and Antarctic research

On 20 June 2024, AGU joined other organizations sending a letter to leaders of the appropriations committees in the House and the Senate requesting funding for two LC-130J airplanes needed for research operations in the Arctic and Antarctic. As you advance fiscal year (FY) 2025 appropriations, we urge you to fund procurement of two LC-130J airplanes in the Defense Appropriations bill. These airplanes are critically needed to safeguard U.S. …