Science policy this week: October 13, 2025

What’s Ahead

The Pentagon pictured at sunset. — A sunset over the Pentagon.

DOD / Alexander Kubitza

Federal agencies issue RIF notices

The White House began issuing reduction-in-force notices to federal workers last Friday amid the government shutdown. A court filing from the administration states that the Department of Energy issued RIF notices related to the shutdown to about 187 employees, while the Department of Health and Human Services issued between 1,100 and 1,200 notices, and the Department of Commerce issued about 315 notices. The filing opposes the American Federation of Government Employees’ request for a temporary restraining order to pause the RIFs. The New York Times reported that the administration rescinded layoffs at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Saturday, one day after they were first issued.

Additional RIFs remain possible, and it is unclear if the list in the filing is comprehensive. Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought posted the same day as the filing, “The RIFs have begun.” Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), ranking member of the House Science Committee, said the RIFs are “illegal” and “cannot stand,” asking any federal scientists who have received RIF notices to use House Science Democrats’ whistleblower form. Employees subject to RIFs may be assigned to an equivalent position, moved to a downgraded position, or laid off, according to White House guidance. However, President Donald Trump has indicated that the RIFs will primarily result in layoffs.

Trump has also threatened that employees who are furloughed may not receive back pay. Meanwhile, the Department of Defense said it would use $8 billion in unspent R&D money from fiscal year 2025 to pay service members through the shutdown.

Senate passes restrictions on Chinese tech in defense bill

The Senate passed the annual National Defense Authorization Act last week after adopting several amendments, including provisions restricting U.S. companies’ connections to biotechnology, AI, and quantum from Chinese companies. The bill passed with bipartisan support, unlike the House version passed last month. The chambers must now work to reconcile their versions ahead of a final vote.

The bill includes the BIOSECURE Act, which would prevent federal agencies from using biotechnology from Chinese “companies of concern” or from contracting with U.S. companies using such biotechnology in performance of the contract. The list of covered companies would be determined by the White House and include the Department of Defense’s annual list of Chinese military companies. The Senate’s version would remove some companies specified in the version passed by the House in 2024 and add an exception for procuring medical supplies “in direct response to a public health emergency.” Another amendment would allow the Treasury Department to prohibit U.S. investment in Chinese companies working on certain emerging technologies and otherwise require reporting of such investments. The provision would reinforce a final rule from the Treasury Department that took effect in January.

Lawmakers, DOE present plans to advance fusion

Government and industry leaders in fusion will convene this week to present the final report from the bipartisan Commission on the Scaling of Fusion Energy and the U.S. fusion roadmap from the Department of Energy. The commission’s report, released last week, reiterates its authors’ recommendation for a $10 billion one-time injection of federal funds into the industry, including $4 billion to $5 billion for R&D infrastructure, $1 billion for commercialization programs, and $4 billion for two demonstration fusion power plants. The report also recommends DOE pursue construction on more than one demonstration fusion power plant in the U.S. by the end of 2028 and appoint a “national fusion lead” with decisionmaking authority. The release event for the commission report on Tuesday is hosted by the Special Competitive Studies Project and will feature speakers, including Princeton Lab Director Steve Cowley and Livermore Lab Director Kim Budil. The DOE roadmap will be released on Wednesday at a separate event hosted by the Fusion Industry Association, with high-level government officials, including DOE Under Secretary for Science Darío Gil, scheduled to appear.

Also on our radar

DOE may cancel hundreds more clean energy grants, on top of the more than 300 such grants it terminated on Oct. 2. A leaked list includes the already-terminated grants plus around 300 more, all marked “terminate.” DOE has not officially confirmed any additional cancellations.
MIT’s president sent a letter to the White House stating that the school would not sign the administration’s Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education because “the premise of the document is inconsistent with our core belief that scientific funding should be based on scientific merit alone.”
The Senate confirmed a batch of over 100 energy and environment nominees last week, including Neil Jacobs to lead NOAA and Ned Mamula to lead the U.S. Geological Survey. It also confirmed nominees to lead DOE offices for renewables, electricity, and nuclear cleanup and the State Department’s economic growth, energy, and environment portfolio.
A petition for NSF to roll back changes to its graduate research fellowship program’s eligibility requirements has collected over 1,100 signatures. NSF changed its criteria in late September, excluding second-year graduate students.

Senate Commerce Committee Ranking Member Maria Cantwell (D-WA) accused OMB of illegally withholding funds for whistleblower resources used by NSF.
An analysis by the New York Times shows a 19-percent drop in international students arriving in the United States compared to the same month in 2024. The report suggests the drop is likely due to visa delays, travel bans, and increased uncertainty about studying in the United States.