What should we do about science funding and the other very bad government stuff?

If you’re paying attention to the news in the United States about the situation with funding for NSF, NIH, and other orgs, then I would imagine that like me, you’re furious, worried, feeling in the dark, and confused about where things are going and what to do.

I’ve been paying attention on the socials, news, and in communication with some folks involved in federally-funded agencies about what’s going on, so if you’re not tuned in, let me give you an update and some context.

It’s not clear where this is going. NSF has a little guidance, which they’re providing here, but obviously there is a lot that they cannot say.

In short, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), run out of the White House, claimed that they put a freeze on all federal loans and grants, including NIH, NSF, and plenty of stuff. Since this these funds are congressionally allocated, they actually don’t have the legal authority to do this, and a variety of well-informed people have characterized this as an actual coup attempt. Meanwhile, very promptly a federal judge has put up a temporary block on this temporary hold, as of the last couple hours. I imagine that whatever I say to summarize the current state of affairs will go out of date within hours, or maybe a couple days.

What most universities seem to be saying is that we should be careful to avoid spending stuff specifically targeting DEIA work but ongoing work should not be stopped. But they haven’t said what DEIA work is, and haven’t given any specific guidance about what work we are supposed to halt. Don’t comply in advance.

I seem to know lots of folks who have spent the past month writing grants to submit to programs that were ‘archived’ at the last minute, such as RCN-UBE. My heart goes out to all of you. It’s not clear how things will shake out for these programs. I have full confidence that the scientists who run the National Science Foundation are working their absolute hardest to protect their work, our communities, and the gains that they have made in supporting science for everyone. I know a lot of these people in the NSF, and have a lot of faith in them, and they will serve us well. I am not confident that the outcome will be positive, but they’re doing their best.

At this particular critical moment, getting our own legislators to do something is critical. Nearly all democrats seem to be useless, and we need to exhort them to stand up and fight like the opposition party that they are. Also, the White House is stealing power from Congress, and regardless of the color of your state, now is the time to implore your reps to protect federal funds coming into your state. Call your senators and house member (it really does matter) and tell them that this isn’t okay. Say that federal funding of science is critical for your state and district, and that it’s long had bipartisan support, and that that Trump’s actions are illegal and you expect them to be vocal in publicly opposing it.

If we get more Marches For Science rolling again, I’d like to make sure that we have a nice big and broad tent. Coalition building means working with people we might disagree with on other matters. There was too much silliness and ego interfering with the organization of first March for Science. The point is that it’s big and that many people of all identities, geographies, beliefs, and practices are involved.

In the bigger picture, what are we supposed to be doing as scientists in the midst of this authoritarian and segregationist regime that’s taken over our federal government? I think what I said the first go-round eight years ago about how to be an academic in an autocracy still holds true. It seems overwhelming at the moment because they are seeking to overwhelm us, to do all of this horrible stuff in one fell swoop so that we can’t possibly oppose it all. How can we navigate this? Let’s lean into community, talk with one another and spend time together in person. We are not going to succeed simply by communicating over the social networks and media tools that have bent the knee to this administration. We need to sustain one another. Let’s keep sciencing, let’s keep teaching, and let’s have fun. Don’t let them steal our joy. This is their initial set of volleys in what will be a long struggle. But really, it’s always been a perpetual struggle. There always is the work and there always has been. We have to keep doing the work.