Science Policy This Week: November 3, 2025

What’s Ahead

A tunnel in the Nevada National Security Site's PULSE complex, an underground facility where sub-critical nuclear experiments are performed. — A tunnel in the Nevada National Security Site’s PULSE complex, an underground facility where sub-critical nuclear experiments are performed.

Department of Energy

Trump calls to resume nuclear testing

President Donald Trump last week called on the Defense Department to begin testing nuclear weapons on an “equal basis” to the tests performed by other countries.

Trump reiterated his interest in nuclear weapons testing in a 60 Minutes interview on Friday, saying, “If we have ‘em, we have to test ‘em, otherwise you don’t really know how they’re gonna work.”

Trump’s instruction came shortly before he was due to meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinping and followed announcements from Russia that it successfully tested two of its six experimental nuclear-weapons projects, including a nuclear-powered cruise missile and a nuclear-powered torpedo .

The nature of the nuclear testing Trump intends the U.S. to carry out remains unclear. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said over the weekend that he thought the president did not intend to carry out explosive tests, though he did not rule them out. Most modern nuclear testing relies on computer modeling or subcritical tests carried out underground. Earlier this year, Trump’s pick to head the National Nuclear Security Administration, Brandon Williams, said during his Senate nomination hearing that he “would not advise testing” nuclear weapons above the criticality threshold. NNSA conducts subcritical nuclear tests at the Nevada National Security Site in partnership with DOE’s national labs.

Former DOGE employee now head of naval research

Rachel Riley, a Department of Government Efficiency official who pushed for deep staff cuts at the Department of Health and Human Services, is now in charge of the Office of Naval Research. Riley replaced Rear Adm. Kurt Rothenhaus, who is now commanding the Naval Information Warfare Systems Command.

Riley was a partner at McKinsey prior to becoming a senior adviser at HHS, where she reportedly recommended laying off nearly 8,000 employees — a move that was scaled back significantly and has been temporarily blocked by a federal court.

The Office of Naval Research manages a $2.5 billion annual budget and plays a central role in setting the facilities and administrative costs, or indirect costs, covered by federal research grants. The Trump administration attempted to significantly cut indirect cost rates earlier this year but was blocked by courts. University groups have been pushing a new financial model to split costs.

Defense Department taps R&D funds again to pay troops

The Defense Department has again tapped into its R&D funds to pay military personnel as the government shutdown continues. In mid-October, at the direction of the White House, the department reportedly took $8 billion in unobligated research funds to pay troops — a move that has raised legal questions. The department has now taken a further $1.4 billion from its research accounts, according to reporting by Federal News Network. It is unclear how the government will fund the next military payroll if the shutdown continues through November.

Last week, the National President of the American Federation of Government Employees called on Congress to reopen the government, stating that both sides have “made their point” and that continuing to force government employees to work without pay is unacceptable. Meanwhile, a federal judge last week extended an order barring the Trump administration from carrying out large-scale reductions-in-force. The shutdown is on track to become the longest on record tomorrow, exceeding the 2018-2019 shutdown, which lasted 35 days.

Conservative colleges poised to sign Trump higher ed compact

While most universities invited to sign the Trump administration’s Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education have rejected the offer, two small conservative-leaning colleges have expressed interest in signing the agreement: New College of Florida, a small public liberal arts college, and Valley Forge Military College in Pennsylvania.

Trump’s higher ed compact, which promises preferential access to federal funding in exchange for commitments to the Trump administration’s political agenda, has been criticized by many higher education leaders. A statement by the American Council on Education and other university groups said the “compact’s prescriptions threaten to undermine the very qualities that make our system exceptional.”

Also on our radar

The UN Climate Change Conference, COP30, begins next week in Brazil. In the lead-up to the meeting, the UN has produced three UN reports assessing progress on the Paris Agreement and climate resilience efforts.
University spending on lobbying is significantly up in 2025 compared to last year, but decreased slightly in the third quarter, an Inside Higher Ed analysis suggests. Key issues include research funding and immigration.
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development published its biennial report on science, technology, and innovation last week. The report found that R&D spending growth has slowed in OECD countries in recent years.
Progress toward the completion of the China-Argentina Radio Telescope (CART) has stalled due to tensions between China and the U.S., Science reports.
Some researchers are concerned that Australia may not have enough trained geoscientists to find and extract the minerals needed to fulfill the $8.5 billion critical minerals deal between the U.S and Australia.