The Bridge: Connecting Science and Policy

August 27, 2026

NCAR, OMB, and the Power of 30,000 Voices

By: Caitlin Bergstrom This year, our community has stepped up to provide critical feedback on several proposed regulations and calls for public comment. It has been a difficult eighteen months for the science community, with rapid divestments in science research causing uncertainty for both individuals conducting research and the vital research our scientists do. Utilizing our online action campaigns and our deep network of grassroots advocates, we have generated more …

Wins, Losses, and Why We Keep Showing Up

By: Lexi Shultz In 2026, AGU’s Science Policy & Government Relations team continued our “Days of Action” initiative to empower our science community to push back against a variety of systemic assaults on the federal science enterprise. This year alone, we’ve seen the U.S. Administration work to shut down critical ocean and atmospheric scientific infrastructure, block congressionally mandated funding from being spent on Earth and space science grants, eliminate government …

August 25, 2026

Defending Science, One Voice at a Time

By: Michael Villafranca Protecting NCAR When the Trump Administration announced plans to dismantle NCAR in December, AGU’s SPGR team moved quickly. Within weeks, we had launched grassroots tools that generated 36,000 emails and more than 2,300 phone calls to Congress, coordinated with partner societies behind a joint letter to the White House, and submitted a formal organizational response to NSF—all while providing individual members a direct channel to submit their …

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 …