Scientists decry Fauci prosecution threat

A Senate committee contempt resolution and referral for prosecution against former National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases director Anthony Fauci has drawn concern from scientists. Current and former National Institutes of Health employees had issued a letter of support for Fauci, echoing scientific groups. The 8-5 resolution vote was decided along partisan lines on Thursday. Afterward, Ashish Jha, the Biden administration COVID czar and past dean of the Brown University School of Public Health, criticized the move as “essentially trying to criminalize government scientists,” in comments to Axios.

Fauci invoked the Fifth Amendment in refusing to answer questions at the July Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing chaired by Senator Rand Paul (R-KY). Paul had previously clashed with Fauci and called for his imprisonment. In bypassing a full Senate vote on the contempt resolution, Paul’s request for the Justice Department to prosecute Fauci has raised legal questions. A University of Kentucky law professor told Politico the request fell into “a bit of a gray area,” while a congressional investigations expert called the request ”null and void,” in comments to Reuters.

For now, a decision to take up the charge rests with the Justice Department. The request raises questions of presidential pardon immunity, the constitutional right against self-incrimination, and congressional investigation prerogatives. If Democrats retake the House in November, American Governance Institute executive director Daniel Schuman notes that congressional committees may begin investigating Trump administration officials, with the Fauci case setting a precedent for handling contempt resolutions. A contempt of Congress prosecution carries a fine of up to $100,000 and a jail sentence of up to one year.

National Academies orders probe of climate science peer-review process

The National Academy of Sciences announced an independent review of its development of the climate science chapter of a major scientific reference for federal judges. NAS is removing the chapter from its website while the review is underway. Up to this point, the organization has stood by the chapter, rebuffing a February request from 27 Republican attorneys general to remove it. Since then, President Donald Trump and Republican lawmakers have heightened the scrutiny of the chapter and other climate-related NAS projects, notably a recent report on attribution science. Trump proposed defunding NAS in July, saying its “fraudulent, biased, and misleading” editions of the reference manual have created “huge losses” across the country in court cases on climate change. Nearly half of NAS revenue, some $189 million, came from government contracts in 2025.

Authors of the reference manual have previously described its peer review process as “extensive and rigorous.” NAS said it has an obligation to honestly examine questions of bias and conflicts of interest and take action accordingly. The academy also noted that the assessment is “about the process used to produce the chapter and not about the validity of climate science.”

DOE secretary referred to DOJ over blue state grant cancellations

Department of Energy Secretary Chris Wright is under fire over June testimony that $7.5 billion in clean energy project terminations were not driven by political retaliation. Two Democrats on the House Science Committee, Ranking Member Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) and Rep. Gabe Amo (D-RI), charge Wright lied to Congress in a referral to the Justice Department over the claim.

The lawmakers cited a July federal lawsuit acknowledgment by the Justice Department that the 321 terminations were “based solely on the political identity of the grant recipient’s state,” some 16 that had voted for Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election. “It is a weighty thing to assert that a Cabinet Secretary lied to Congress,” said the lawmakers in their referral. “But the facts of the situation are clear and undeniable.”

The Energy Department pushed back on the charge. “The Secretary’s statements in his testimony are correct. None of the termination decisions were based on political considerations,” an agency spokesperson said.

Also on our radar

• Failing to reestablish semiconductor R&D entities may leave the US reliant on other countries for chip technologies, a new GAO report says.
• GAO found errors and largely unverifiable estimates in DOGE’s federal cost-cutting calculations.
• NSF revised its nondiscrimination regulations for grant recipients, removing provisions related to disparate impact discrimination. The changes align with the DOJ’s Title VI rulemaking and related administration policies.
• APS is crowdsourcing ideas to “position the NSF to meet the evolving needs of the nation, its citizens, and science.” It plans to develop policy proposals and legislative language for consideration by January.
• DOE is seeking contributors for a suite of open-weight foundation models for accelerating scientific discovery as part of the Genesis Mission.
• The Department of Education published a letter highlighting research security as a central issue for higher education, asking institutions to publicly describe how they defend against foreign influence, among other topics. The letter departs from the prescriptive “compact” the administration offered to universities last year.
• The Department of Education recently updated its website sharing details of universities’ self-reported foreign gifts and contracts worth $250,000 or more.
• Former Deputy Surgeon General Erica Schwartz was confirmed as CDC director last week. The agency has not had a permanent director since Susan Monarez was ousted in August 2025. NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya has served as acting CDC director since mid-February, exceeding the usual 210-day time limit.
  

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Duration of status rule changes webinar

On Aug. 12, AIP will host a federation-wide webinar on a recent immigration rule change that will cap student visas to a maximum of four years and eliminate the decades-old duration of status system. The goal of the webinar is to help attendees better understand the final rule and its impact on international students and visitors. The program will feature speakers from AIP, FYI Science Policy News, and the Institute for Progress (IFP), with time for an extended audience Q&A. Click here to register.

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All events are Eastern Time unless otherwise noted. Listings do not imply endorsement. Events beyond this week are listed on our website.

Monday, August 10

National Academies: Strengthening preparedness against novel biological threat agents enabled through AI and other emerging technologies, meeting five
9:00 am - 5:00 pm

National Academies: Assessment of technical and scientific capabilities at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, meeting 10
1:00 - 3:00 pm

Tuesday, August 11

NDIA: Space and Missile Defense Symposium (continues through Thursday)

National Academies: Preparing for a future of AI-enabled biology (continues Wednesday)

National Academies: Systemic approaches to transforming undergraduate STEM education
12:00 - 5:00 pm

AAAS: Inside STPF & AAAS Fellowships
2:00 - 3:00 pm

Wednesday, August 12

USGS: National Geospatial Advisory Committee meeting (continues Thursday)

AIP: Understanding DHS’s Duration of Status rule
12:00 pm

Baker Institute: Why governments need science advice with Angela McLean
12:30 - 2:00 pm

Thursday, August 13

No events.

Friday, August 14

NASA: News conference celebrating American air, space leadership
2:30 pm

Monday, August 17

National Academies: Assessment of technical and scientific capabilities at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, meeting 11
1:00 - 3:00 pm

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Deadlines indicated in parentheses. Newly added opportunities are marked with a diamond.

AIP Science Policy Fellowships

AIP is opening applications for year-long science policy fellowships to support Congress and the State Department. Fellows will provide scientific guidance to directly shape legislative and policymaking processes. Congressional fellows will serve as staff in congressional offices or committees, while State Department fellows will focus on foreign policy issues. Fellowships are open to members of AIP Member Societies. Applications open Aug. 1.

Job Openings

◆National Academies: Assistant to the president (ongoing)
APS: Head of scientific programs (ongoing)
AIP: Director of social science research (ongoing)
ACS: Congressional fellowship (ongoing)
◆NIST: Multilateral standards coordinator (Aug. 10)
◆DOD: Science and technology engagement specialist, Defense Threat Reduction Agency (Aug. 10)
DOE: Director, Computational Science Research and Partnerships Division (Aug. 14)
◆OMB: Branch chief, Defense, International Affairs, and General Government (Aug. 18)
◆DOD: Deputy assistant secretary of war, Strategic, Space, and Intelligence Portfolio Management (Aug. 19)
OMB: Attorney advisor (Aug. 20)
◆AAAS: Scientific outreach support specialist, full-time and part-time (Aug. 22)
AIP: Science policy fellowship, State Department (Oct. 1)
AAAS: Pathways to Policy Fellowship (Nov. 1)
AIP: Science policy fellowship, Congress (Dec. 1)

Solicitations

Physics Today: Reader information survey (ongoing)
◆APS: Call for ideas for the NSF Forward initiative (ongoing)
◆ACS: Call for ACS members to address global grand challenges in chemistry (ongoing)
FAS: Public Impact S&T Initiative open call (ongoing)
NIST: Request for letters of interest for the Neutron-Based Materials Characterization Consortium (ongoing)
NIST: Request for nominations for members to serve on NIST federal advisory committees (ongoing)
NSF: RFC on Do Not Pay matching program for identifying and preventing improper payments (Aug. 12)
◆DOE: Request for applications to participate in the Genesis Open Models Initiative (Aug. 14)
FAR Council: RFI on “Revolutionary Federal Acquisition Regulation Overhaul Parts 1, 2, 4, 33, 40, and 53” (Aug. 24)
NSF: RFC on NSF Guidance on Financial Assistance (Aug. 24)
National Academies: RFI on Earth Science and Applications from Space 2028-2037 decadal survey (Aug. 24)
NRC: RFC on Reforming and Modernizing the NRC’s Radiation Protection Framework proposed rule (Aug. 31)
DOE: RFI on public-private partnerships in computing (Sept. 8)

Know of an opportunity for scientists to engage in science policy? Email us at fyi@aip.org.

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Do you have a story to tell about how science policy is impacting you?

AIP’s research team is gathering first-hand accounts from scientists, engineers, students, and staff whose careers have been affected by policy and funding changes over the past year. Volunteers can submit their stories via this online form. Participants’ stories will be added to the Niels Bohr Library & Archives digital repository as searchable, citable records — with options for anonymity and a five-year embargo period. Read more about the initiative here.

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News and views currently in circulation. Links do not imply endorsement.

White House

White House: Continuing to protect the meaning and value of American citizenship
E&E News: Trump unveils $3B to boost mining
Nature: What’s missing from the White House plan for the future of US science (editorial)
Chemical & Engineering News: US move to overhaul science funding prompts some agreement and much doubt
Physics World: Critics deride US administration’s ‘golden age of science’ report
The Conversation: White House plan for a ‘golden age’ of science ignores the structures that made the US a scientific superpower (perspective by H. Christopher Frey)
AAS: Breakdown of the OSTP report “Science: A New Golden Age”
The Guardian: With their assault on science, Trumpists aren’t just harming America – they’re harming themselves (perspective by Jan-Werner Müller)

Science, Society, and the Economy

Nature: Why science must reinforce its social contract (perspective by Peter Gluckman)
Nature: The science papers that patents cite the most
Nature: AI agents are checking the scientific literature — and spotting decades-old errors
Research Professional: Major scholarly publishers report ‘strong’ financial results
Issues in S&T: AI slop risks future discovery (perspectives)
Scientific American: OpenAI’s latest math breakthroughs commit research misconduct, experts say

Education and Workforce

House CCP Committee: Rep. John Moolenaar (R-MI): Trump admin shines light on CCP-linked funding on US campuses
Inside Higher Ed: Let’s call a truce between universities and the Trump administration (perspective by Mark Hlavacik and Jonathan Zimmerman)
Inside Higher Ed: Where enrollment stands as fall 2026 approaches
The Baltimore Banner: ICE arrests of two Baltimore academics shake Maryland universities
Chronicle of Higher Education: The AAUP is endorsing political candidates. Not everyone is on board

Research Management

Ars Technica: Peer review is overwhelmed—can it survive in the AI era?
Scholarly Kitchen: Do we need (r)evolution in peer review? (perspective by Dmitry Kochetkov)
Retraction Watch: A composer published a paper on theoretical physics. His lack of credentials drew criticism
Nature: James Bond, not Bond James: Why scientific publishing must respect name order (perspective by Rachakonda Sreekar)
Nature: Lab leaders should follow football’s lead and have coaching qualifications (perspective by Pat Casey)

Labs and Facilities

DARPA: It’s about time for quantum manufacturing
HPCwire: PNNL aims to bring autonomous science to every lab experiment within 5 years
Lawrence Livermore National Lab: LLNL students, mentors put agentic AI tools to work at cross-laboratory clinic
HPCwire: Berkeley lab researchers develop AI model to speed advanced materials synthesis
Idaho National Lab: Five technologies from Idaho National Laboratory win R&D 100 Awards
MIT: Then and now: How MIT Lincoln Laboratory has served as a driving force in national security innovation

Computing and Communications

Wall Street Journal: White House AI guidelines exempt US open models from government review
NSF: New NSF State and Regional AI Infrastructure Hubs program will power AI-enabled scientific research across the country
Politico: Trump announces tariffs on key component for solar panels and semiconductors
The Information: Why US robotics startups are stuffing parts from China in luggage
ChinaTalk: FCC’s Adam Chan on the new robot rule (interview)
Bloomberg: US ban on Chinese optical parts hurts hyperscalers, report says
Brookings: The national security implications of building frontier AI data centers overseas
The Economist: Should AI labs be treated like the owners of dangerous animals?
FedScoop: America is winning the quantum research race. It could still lose the technology race (perspective by Yuval Boger)

Space

Deseret News: The space race has gone nuclear
BBC News: Why haven’t we seen images of the SpaceX Moon crash yet?
SpaceNews: Lessons for the future of NASA Mars exploration from a 1970s mission
NASA: Advanced mini-laboratories automate space station research

Weather, Climate, and Environment

E&E News: National Academies backtracks on disputed climate science chapter, will review process
E&E News: EPA climate grant deal avoids Supreme Court emergency docket
New York Times: Appeals court says EPA cannot block billions in climate grants
E&E News: Watchdog questions EPA oversight of grant reimbursements
Politico: How a conspiracy-fueled campaign could turn Republicans against weather modification
E&E News: World’s largest carbon removal plant to open at the end of 2026
E&E News: Republicans join push for Supreme Court to allow climate lawsuits
E&E News: Inside Doug Burgum’s rocky tenure at Interior

Energy

E&E News: Democrat calls to impeach Vought over energy grants
American Nuclear Society: ORNL, Rutherford Energy Ventures launch fusion partnership
American Nuclear Society: Oklo’s Isotope Test Reactor achieves criticality
Power: DOE approves safety design of deep fission’s underground SMR
IAEA: Research reactors drive innovation in science, health, and industry

Defense

Reuters: US must pay university group’s legal fees in case over Pentagon research funds
Breaking Defense: Senate’s stopgap funding bill rejects special requests for Trump battleship, munitions
Wired: Landmark deal would officially add laser weapons to US army arsenal
Breaking Defense: Defense execs feel good about Pentagon spending despite uncertainty on FY27 budget
DefenseScoop: Space Force awards $615M in deals for second batch of aircraft-tracking satellites
Breaking Defense: Pentagon wants ‘expanding options’ for nuclear weapons, officials say

Biomedical

Inside Higher Ed: NIH has spent 69 percent of its grants budget
Stat: NIH plans to block international researchers on visas from accessing key funding avenue
NIH: NIH selects Dr. Judy Cho to helm the National Human Genome Research Institute
Science: NIH Director Bhattacharya kills more health disparities grants
Politico: NIH head quarrels with CBS host over loss in public trust on health issues
Science: ‘I Am What I Am’: Fauci’s private notes reveal a scientist navigating science, politics, and fame
Politico: A lab-leak proponent is in line for Fauci’s old job
Stat: I was in my office when bullets hit the CDC. A year later, the agency remains under attack (perspective by Daniel Jernigan)
MedPage Today: Trump’s gain-of-function policy may suppress key pandemic research
CNN: White House considering order targeting vaccines and autism despite advisers’ warnings
New York Times: FDA approves Moderna’s mRNA flu vaccine
Stat: One year since Kennedy canceled mRNA vaccine projects, science shows how wrong he was (perspective by Jeff Coller)
Scientific American: AI just created a virus not found in nature and scientists are worried

International Affairs

Science|Business: US Stand Up for Science movement expands to Europe
Nature: Scientists up in arms about cuts to UK physics and astronomy
The Guardian: Science funding cuts will harm Britain’s global standing (perspectives)
Science|Business: EU launches €10B AI gigafactories call
Lawfare: Tokyo’s nuclear dilemma (perspective by Evan Montgomery and Toshi Yoshihara)
Physics World: How women physicists in India are breaking down barriers and shaping the future