The Bridge: Connecting Science and Policy

June 15, 2026

FY2027 Appropriations Update: DOE Office of Science and NIEHS

In this final installment of AGU’s blog series on the House Appropriations Committee’s spending bills for fiscal year 2027 (FY27), we cover the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Science and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)—two agencies whose funding is spread across three separate appropriations bills and whose work underpins environmental research, public health science and the broader Earth science enterprise. Below is a breakdown of what …

FY2027 Appropriations Update: USGS and EPA

As the House Appropriations Committee works through its spending bills for fiscal year 2027 (FY27), the stakes for science remain high. This month, the committee advanced its Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies (I&E) bill, recommending funding for the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) that pushes back sharply against the administration’s proposed cuts, while recommending significant reductions to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Together, these decisions shape the federal investment in Earth …

May 26, 2026

FY2027 Appropriations Update: NASA, NOAA and NSF

Congress has taken its first formal step in pushing back against the Administration’s proposed cuts to science funding for fiscal year 2027 (FY27). The House Appropriations Committee’s FY27 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) bill, released this month, recommends funding for NASA, NOAA, and NSF that rejects some of the most damaging elements of the President’s budget request—preserving key research programs, restoring critical infrastructure, and sending a clear signal …

April 20, 2026

Igniting Discovery: How NASA Funding Advances American Science

NASA’s Science Mission Directorate (SMD) has enabled American leadership in the Earth and space sciences for decades. Through NASA SMD, American researchers have revolutionized humanity’s fundamental understanding of the universe, provided data essential to national security and weather forecasting, and spurred commercial development. The pace of global investment in space science is accelerating, and maintaining American leadership in this arena requires sustained commitment to the fundamental research that has always …

March 6, 2026

Scientists Making a Difference on Capitol Hill

Liz Landau, Director, AGU Science Policy & Government Relations We get asked often by scientists if they can ‘make a difference’ by taking part in science policy efforts. We always say “yes”, but I think actions speak louder than words. And some of the most telling examples are from the group of 38 scientists who participated in 79 meetings on Capitol Hill on 4 March. There was the office …

February 5, 2026

Science Funding for FY26 Secured

On Tuesday, 3 February, the President signed into law a third appropriations package, resulting in 95% of fiscal year 2026 (FY26) appropriations now complete, including funding for all U.S. federal science agencies. Despite a challenging year for science and U.S. science agencies, the FY26 appropriations legislation is a bright spot, demonstrating the strength and value of the scientific community engaging with policymakers. The funding levels recommended in the president’s budget …

February 11, 2025

AGU’s 2024 Science Policy Impact

2024 was an incredibly busy year for AGU’s science policy community, marked by numerous achievements: the adoption of three new position statements, multiple virtual trainings and gatherings, five Congressional visits day events, the release of AGU’s Ethical Framework Principles for Climate Intervention Research, and dozens of workshops and events at scientific meetings around the world, including AGU24 in Washington, D.C. Take a deep dive into AGU’s science policy and …

October 15, 2024

A year in the life of a Congressional Science Fellow

Devon Gorby, PhD, was AGU’s 2023-2024 Congressional Science Fellow. She is now a AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellow at the U.S. Department of State. From September 2023 to September 2024, I worked in the office of Senator Martin Heinrich of New Mexico as AGU’s Congressional Science Fellow. I used my scientific background in climate science, geology and hydrology to cover his water and environment portfolios. The experience was the …

May 30, 2024

Supporting science that saves lives and improves environmental health: a day of advocacy on Capitol Hill

I’m walking the hallways of the Cannon House Office Building, one of the three main buildings that houses offices for members of the U.S. House of Representatives. Walking beside me are Erika Jarvis and Melissa Zamora, both of whom are using science to fight for better environmental health for their local communities in Ohio and Texas, respectively. That’s what drew them here today, to walk the halls of Congress with …

January 31, 2024

AGU’s 2024 Policy Priorities

AGU is a global community of more than half a million scientists, professionals and allies in the Earth and space sciences. Through broad and inclusive partnerships, AGU accelerates knowledge and creates solutions that are ethical, unbiased, and respectful of communities and their values. Expand discovery and innovation in the Earth and space sciences Discovery-driven exploration of Earth and space advances fundamental knowledge and inspires the public. When broadly and …