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Krystal Vasquez

@kvasquez.bsky.social
1.9K followers 702 following 280 posts

Science policy reporter @cenmag.bsky.social. Based near LA. I write a lot about science funding and diversity in STEM. Email: k_vasquez(at)acs.org Signal: kvasquez.12 Once upon a time, I was an atmospheric chemist. All views and opinions are mine.

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Reposted by Krystal Vasquez
cenguild.bsky.social @cenguild.bsky.social · 05/03/2026
The Chemical & Engineering News Guild has overwhelmingly won its union election, with 96% of participants voting in favor of unionization! @wbng.org @newsguild.org
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Krystal Vasquez @kvasquez.bsky.social · 28/01/2026
Earlier this month, a research institute in Venezuela was damaged by US air strikes, marking the latest blow to a research sector already battered by funding and supply shortages. Read more at @cenmag.bsky.social: cen.acs.org/policy/US-ai...
cen.acs.org
US air strikes are the latest blow to Venezuela’s decimated science infrastructure
Venezuelan scientists are ‘waiting to see’ how damage to the country’s top basic science center will affect its research sector
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Bethany Halford @bethanyhalford.bsky.social · 14/01/2026
I'd like to chat with people who have applied for grad school in chem or biochem for fall 2026 for an article in C&EN (@cenmag.bsky.social) about how funding changes in the US are impacting admissions. If this is you, please fill out this form. forms.office.com/r/5xUxaqEnfX #chemsky #chemchat
forms.office.com
Microsoft Forms
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Manny I. Fox Morone @mannyfoxmorone.bsky.social · 05/01/2026
Hope that one day my capable colleagues will have a say in the direction that C&EN is headed. Here we go …
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Bri Barbu @bribarbu.bsky.social · 05/01/2026
I've been at C&EN for over four years and I can genuinely say our staff is some of the most thoughtful, dedicated people I've ever worked with. With @cenguild.bsky.social, we can make sure we're all supported in our effort to keep putting out our unique brand of high-quality science journalism!
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Krystal Vasquez @kvasquez.bsky.social · 05/01/2026
Happy New Years! Here's to making sure that everyone at C&EN---from reporters to copyeditors to production staff---has a voice in the direction of our magazine!
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cenguild.bsky.social @cenguild.bsky.social · 05/01/2026
We are proud to announce the formation of the Chemical & Engineering News Guild. We represent staffers across the editorial and operations teams at C&EN. 1/6
Image with a red, spiked circle and white chemistry flask with a red ampersand in the middle above text that reads, “Chemical & Engineering News is forming a union,” in all caps
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C&EN (Chemical & Engineering News) @cenmag.bsky.social · 09/10/2025
In October 2025, we celebrate the 80th anniversary of National Disability Employment Awareness Month #NDEAM. Meet the 2025 C&EN Trailblazers, chemists with disabilities who rethink how we do science: cen.acs.org/people/profi... #DisabledInSTEM #chemsky 🧪
cen.acs.org
Trailblazers: Chemists with disabilities rethink how we do science
C&EN’s 2025 Trailblazers issue, curated by guest editor Mona Minkara, looks at how chemists can solve problems in new ways
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C&EN (Chemical & Engineering News) @cenmag.bsky.social · 09/10/2025
"Inclusive design doesn’t just widen participation; it expands the very structure-function relationship of science itself. We all stand to gain from that." #NDEAM #DisabledInSTEM #chemsky 🧪 cen.acs.org/careers/dive...
cen.acs.org
The tools we build become the questions we ask
Why inclusive design is good for more than access—it expands the boundaries of discovery
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Krystal Vasquez @kvasquez.bsky.social · 03/10/2025
We saw big disruptions to science during the 2018-19 shutdown, but this one could bring with it a new threat: further reductions in the federal workforce. cen.acs.org/policy/resea...
cen.acs.org
Scientists brace for impact of US government shutdown
Trump administration’s plan for mass federal layoffs could further disrupt research funding and environmental regulation
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Reposted by Krystal Vasquez
Manny I. Fox Morone @mannyfoxmorone.bsky.social · 16/09/2025
I admit that when i started working on this project with @kvasquez.bsky.social, i didn’t think i knew any chemists with disabilities 🧵1/ cen.acs.org/people/profi... @cenmag.bsky.social
cen.acs.org
Trailblazers: Chemists with disabilities rethink how we do science
C&EN’s 2025 Trailblazers issue, curated by guest editor Mona Minkara, looks at how chemists can solve problems in new ways
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Krystal Vasquez @kvasquez.bsky.social · 15/09/2025
Project is live! bsky.app/profile/did:...
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Krystal Vasquez @kvasquez.bsky.social · 15/09/2025
"When we design tools that welcome different ways of sensing and thinking, we open new reaction pathways for discovery. Inclusive design doesn’t just widen participation; it expands the very structure-function relationship of science itself." cen.acs.org/careers/dive...
cen.acs.org
The tools we build become the questions we ask
Why inclusive design is good for more than access—it expands the boundaries of discovery
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Krystal Vasquez @kvasquez.bsky.social · 15/09/2025
So many were involved in this project, but I want to give a special shout out our guest editor Mona Minkara! Mona had a hand in selecting our theme and the 12 Trailblazers featured here. She also wrote a stellar guest essay that I highly encourage you to read: cen.acs.org/careers/dive...
cen.acs.org
The tools we build become the questions we ask
Why inclusive design is good for more than access—it expands the boundaries of discovery
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Krystal Vasquez @kvasquez.bsky.social · 15/09/2025
These 12 profiles highlight how this year's @cenmag.bsky.social Trailblazers are expanding our knowledge of the molecular world, while not shying away from talking about the struggles that come with having to navigate inaccessible STEM environments. cen.acs.org/people/profi...
cen.acs.org
Trailblazers: Chemists with disabilities rethink how we do science
C&EN’s 2025 Trailblazers issue, curated by guest editor Mona Minkara, looks at how chemists can solve problems in new ways
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Krystal Vasquez @kvasquez.bsky.social · 15/09/2025
It so was hard to imagine having successful career in science as a disabled PhD student that eventually I just left. Who could have guessed that years later I would help create a magazine issue dedicated to highlighting Trailblazing disabled chemists! cen.acs.org/people/profi... #DisabledInSTEM
cen.acs.org
Trailblazers: Chemists with disabilities rethink how we do science
C&EN’s 2025 Trailblazers issue, curated by guest editor Mona Minkara, looks at how chemists can solve problems in new ways
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Rowan Walrath @rowanwalrath.bsky.social · 15/09/2025
And be sure to read through the rest of the package, ably edited by my colleagues @mannyfoxmorone.bsky.social and @kvasquez.bsky.social, featuring how chemists with disabilities are reimagining the discipline: cen.acs.org/people/profi...
cen.acs.org
Trailblazers: Chemists with disabilities rethink how we do science
C&EN’s 2025 Trailblazers issue, curated by guest editor Mona Minkara, looks at how chemists can solve problems in new ways
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Reposted by Krystal Vasquez
Rowan Walrath @rowanwalrath.bsky.social · 15/09/2025
Artur Mylin was unfazed when his friend called him in the middle of the night to tell him that the war had begun.
Artur Mylin wears a lab coat and stands for a portrait in an orderly lab space. He stands on one natural leg and one prosthetic leg and holds a cane. An array of flasks, some with stoppers and others without, are on the counter behind him and on the shelves above him. The brown, tiled floor alternates in a pattern of squares, diamonds, and eight-pointed stars.
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Krystal Vasquez @kvasquez.bsky.social · 12/09/2025
Where have I been the past couple months? Working on a project that will feature #DisabledInSTEM chemists who pushing the boundaries of their fields! Can't wait for that to go live Monday! Until then, I invite you to read about 8 disabled scientists who left a lasting mark on modern chemistry. ⬇️
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ACS Chemists with Disabilities Committee (CWD) @acscwd.bsky.social · 18/08/2025
Many hands make light work! At the @acs.org Chemists With Disabilities (CWD) Braille Periodic Table activity at the #ACSFall2025 Member Lounge, over 100 people have helped glue braille dots for element symbols so far. One is almost done! Aiming to finish both Tuesday, so come join us to help out!
Photo showing ACS Fall 2025 attendees help glue braille dots into one of the wooden Braille Periodic Tables (around 24 by 36 inches) at the Member Lounge. Photo showing a ACS Fall 2025 attendee touching one of the wooden Braille Periodic Tables (around 24 by 36 inches) at the Member Lounge. Close-up photo showing a ACS Fall 2025 attendee touching one of the wooden Braille Periodic Tables (around 24 by 36 inches) at the Member Lounge.
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C&EN (Chemical & Engineering News) @cenmag.bsky.social · 23/07/2025
Discover the redesigned C&EN online. The site is built to help you stay informed about chemistry, with a streamlined layout, smarter navigation, and curated selections from our editorial team. cen.acs.org?sc=250723_sc...
Discover the redesigned C&EN online.  

The site is built to help you stay informed about chemistry, with a streamlined layout, smarter navigation, and curated selections from our editorial team.
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Dan Garisto @dangaristo.bsky.social · 22/07/2025
NSF staff release their appeal—slightly different format than the declarations of dissent from EPA/NIH/NASA; a more formal petition to Congress to redress attacks on the agency and its employees. 149 signatories (48 named) democrats-science.house.gov/imo/media/do...
Petition for Action
As provided under the Lloyd-La Follette Act (5 U.S.C. 7211), the signatories respectfully petition the
Committee to:
1. Ensure that NSF employees are shielded from politically motivated firings and protected
under merit-based personnel systems.
2. End illegal impoundments of monies appropriated to NSF.
3. Defend the agency from further interference in its peer review process.
4. Demand transparency from OMB, DOGE, and NSF leadership regarding internal employment
policies and future agency relocations.
5. Reaffirm NSF’s scientific independence and support for world-class research that advances
national prosperity and security.
NSF employees are committed to serving the American people through research, education, and
innovation. But they cannot do so under fear, censorship, and institutional sabotage. Without immediate
oversight and corrective action from Congress, one of our nation’s greatest engines for scientific and
technological advancement faces irreversible long-term damage. Put simply, America will forfeit its
scientific leadership position to China and other rival nations.
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C&EN (Chemical & Engineering News) @cenmag.bsky.social · 22/07/2025
Gutting the National Climate Assessment is just one way the Trump administration is undermining the legal justification to limit greenhouse gas emissions. cen.acs.org/environment/... #chemsky 🧪
cen.acs.org
How the White House is dismantling the heart of US climate policy
Gutting the National Climate Assessment is just one way the Trump administration is undermining the legal justification to limit greenhouse gas emissions
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Dr. David Miller 🏳️‍🌈 @davidimiller.bsky.social · 18/07/2025
🧪 For those following indirect rates (not normally an issue with so much drama!): Senate bill, out today, seeks to block the admin from making abrupt changes to indirect rates at NSF, NASA, and NOAA: www.appropriations.senate.gov/imo/media/do...
10 SEC. 542. In making Federal financial assistance, the
11 Department of Commerce, the National Aeronautics and
12 Space Administration, and the National Science Founda13 tion shall continue to apply the negotiated indirect cost
14 rates for Institutions of Higher Education in section
15 200.414 of title 2, Code of Federal Regulations, including
16 with respect to the approval of deviations from negotiated
17 indirect cost rates, to the same extent and in the same
18 manner as such negotiated indirect cost rates were applied
19 in fiscal year 2024: Provided, That none of the funds ap20 propriated in this or prior Commerce, Justice, Science,
21 and Related Agencies Appropriations Acts, or otherwise
22 made available to the Department of Commerce, the Na23 tional Aeronautics and Space Administration, and the Na24 tional Science Foundation may be used to develop, modify, 
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•S 2354 RS
1 or implement changes to such fiscal year 2024 negotiated
2 indirect cost rates.
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Krystal Vasquez @kvasquez.bsky.social · 18/07/2025
I do want to point out that any differences between the House and Senate bill need to be resolved before the budget is signed by the president. And here's a great thread by @davidimiller.bsky.social breaking down what the House's version says right now: bsky.app/profile/davi...
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Krystal Vasquez @kvasquez.bsky.social · 18/07/2025
More on the Senate bill and NSF's FY26 STEM ed budget based on the committee's report: www.appropriations.senate.gov/imo/media/do... The GRFP + a number of broadening participation programs would maintain current funding levels. The Trump admin's proposal for comparison: cen.acs.org/policy/resea...
Table of the NSF STEM education budget. Amounts are in thousands of dollars. 

STEM education: 1,000,000
Graduate Research Fellowship Program: 285,000
Advanced Technological Education: 75,000
Improving Undergraduate STEM Education [IUSE]: 90,000
Centers for Research Excellence in Science and Technology: 24,000
HBCU—Undergraduate Program: 36,500
IUSE: HSI: 46,500
Tribal Colleges and Universities Program: 16,500
ADVANCE: 18,000
Alliances for Graduate Education and the Professoriate: 8,000
Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation: 49,500
Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program: 67,000
CyberCorps, Scholarships for Service: 63,000
Advancing Informal STEM Learning [AISL]: 60,000

The Committee’s recommendation provides $1,000,000,000 for
STEM Education. The recommendation is $172,000,000 below the
fiscal year 2025 enacted level.
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Krystal Vasquez @kvasquez.bsky.social · 18/07/2025
And here's the bill text that was approved by the Senate committee: www.appropriations.senate.gov/imo/media/do... It would give the NSF $1 billion for STEM education. For comparison: FY2024: ~$1.2 billion President's request: $288 million
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Save NSF @savensf.bsky.social · 17/07/2025
📰 Save NSF has another newsletter coming out this week. Sign up for our mailing list, so you don't miss out on any important updates or resources. www.savensf.com/join-our-list #SaveNSF #stayuptodate
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Krystal Vasquez @kvasquez.bsky.social · 17/07/2025
For even more context, here's a summary of what Congress passed in FY2024: cen.acs.org/policy/resea...
cen.acs.org
Lawmakers slash US science funding
Many federal agencies, except the DOE, brace for cuts until Oct. 1
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Krystal Vasquez @kvasquez.bsky.social · 17/07/2025
For context, here is what the Trump administration requested back in May: cen.acs.org/policy/resea...
cen.acs.org
Proposed White House budget would slash science funding
Plan called ‘disastrous’ and ‘catastrophic’ by lawmakers and science advocates
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Krystal Vasquez @kvasquez.bsky.social · 17/07/2025
From the Senate committee bill summary: NSF: $9 billion NASA: $24.9 billion NOAA: $6.1 billion NIST: $1.6 billion www.appropriations.senate.gov/imo/media/do...
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Krystal Vasquez @kvasquez.bsky.social · 17/07/2025
Bill passes 19-10 and is off to the full Senate for consideration. The bill currently keeps NSF's budget flat at $9 billion.
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Dan Garisto @dangaristo.bsky.social · 17/07/2025
19 ayes and 10 nays on the bill, so the it passes and will be reported to the broader Senate.
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Krystal Vasquez @kvasquez.bsky.social · 17/07/2025
A quick note for bandwidth reasons, I've mainly been summarizing what's been going on with the FY2026 NSF budget over on LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com/in/krystalvasquez). But I'm still making sure to share info from good sources talking about it here!
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Krystal Vasquez @kvasquez.bsky.social · 17/07/2025
Senate Appropriations Committee is resuming consideration of the bill that contains the FY 2026 budgets for agencies like NASA, NOAA and NSF. Watch the markup here: www.appropriations.senate.gov/hearings/ful... @nature.com has a good summary of what's happened so far: www.nature.com/articles/d41...
appropriations.senate.gov
Full Committee Markup of Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations Acts | United States Senate Committee on Appropriations
United States Senate Committee on Appropriations
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Krystal Vasquez @kvasquez.bsky.social · 16/07/2025
Some NSF-related news from Rebecca Trager at @chemistryworld.com: NSF employees were working on their own version of a dissent declaration, but have since paused the effort after EPA employees faced retaliation for releasing a similar document. www.chemistryworld.com/news/nationa...
chemistryworld.com
National Science Foundation employees’ dissent declaration on ‘indefinite hold’
Document's postponement follows recent suspension of staff at Environmental Protection Agency for releasing similar declaration
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Dr. David Miller 🏳️‍🌈 @davidimiller.bsky.social · 14/07/2025
🧪 CRITICAL UPDATE: The House draft version is now out. ✅ Like the Senate's version, there's no cut to NASA's budget. ❌ There's a 23% proposed cut to NSF's budget. 8-page summary: appropriations.house.gov/sites/evo-su... Draft bill: appropriations.house.gov/sites/evo-su...
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Kyle Cheney @kyledcheney.bsky.social · 12/07/2025
BREAKING: Judge rules that during its large-scale enforcement operation in LA, DHS/ICE has been arresting people without probable cause -- based on factors like accent and line of work. She orders the agencies to stop. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
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Dan Garisto @dangaristo.bsky.social · 10/07/2025
The Senate Committee on Appropriations gave the first signs Congress will push back on Trump's proposed budget cuts to science and instead keep funding flat, though an unrelated issue (the location of the FBI headquarters) stalled any vote today. @alexwitze.bsky.social and I report:
nature.com
US senators poised to reject Trump’s proposed massive science cuts
Committee gives first hint that policymakers might preserve, rather than slash, funding for US National Science Foundation and other agencies.
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Dan Garisto @dangaristo.bsky.social · 10/07/2025
Short summary of Senate Appropriations hearing: Bipartisan agreement to keep funding at FY '24 levels for NASA/NSF passes 21-6 Van Hollen adds an amendment on FBI HQ which passes thanks to Murkowski Republican members change votes to no, threatening the bill. Now in... indefinite recess 🤷‍♂️
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Jeremy Berg @jeremymberg.bsky.social · 10/07/2025
No. The OBBA covers mandatory spending, taxes, and some policy issues with budget implications. Discretionary spending is handled through appropriation bills now in the works. It is confusing. And Google AI (at least) gets it wrong.
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Dan Garisto @dangaristo.bsky.social · 10/07/2025
Baldwin (D-WI) offers amendment reinstating over 1500 terminated NSF grants. "Every member of this committee has had research grants terminated for universities in their states." Moran: Appreciate Sen. Baldwin to make sure NSF is fulfilling its mission. Opposes amendment b/c overly broad.
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Dan Garisto @dangaristo.bsky.social · 10/07/2025
Senate committee on appropriations markup meeting is starting now. They'll be discussing a lot of stuff, but in particular, science agencies like NSF & NASA. Yesterday Sen. Moran indicated funding would be 33.9 billion, preserving FY '24 numbers. www.appropriations.senate.gov/hearings/ful...
appropriations.senate.gov
Full Committee Markup of Commerce, Justice, Science; Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA; and Legislative Branch Appropriations Acts | United States Senate Committee on Appropriations
United States Senate Committee on Appropriations
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Julia Métraux @juliametraux.bsky.social · 03/07/2025
"An absolute moral failure." Around one in three disabled people are on Medicaid. I spoke to disability advocates about how devastated they are that the House passed the budget bill that will slash close to a trillion from Medicaid at @motherjones.com. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
motherjones.com
"An absolute moral failure": Disability advocates react to Trump's Medicaid cuts
"At the end of the day, this Congress lacks the courage to do the right thing."
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Krystal Vasquez @kvasquez.bsky.social · 02/07/2025
Gotcha. It's also unclear to me, though I did just come across this article that suggests courts can still issue preliminary APA remedies (www.scotusblog.com/2025/07/trum...). Of course, that doesn't mean that courts won't start behaving differently post-CASA.
scotusblog.com
Trump v. CASA and the future of the universal injunction
This is part of SCOTUSblog’s term in review series, in which scholars analyze some of the most significant cases of the 2024-25 Supreme Court term. The best that can be […]
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Krystal Vasquez @kvasquez.bsky.social · 02/07/2025
Assuming I’m reading this correctly, the Supreme Court didn’t resolve whether the limit on nationwide injunctions applied to cases brought under the Administrative Procedures Act (as is the case here). So it seems like there’s a carve out for now. www.politico.com/live-updates...
politico.com
Administrative Procedures Act
Follow POLITICO's live coverage and analysis of the Supreme Court's final day issuing decisions for the 2024-2025 term.
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Dan Garisto @dangaristo.bsky.social · 30/06/2025
NEW: In more court-related science policy news, there's now a final decision in AAU v. DOE, on the 15% indirect rate policy, which had been frozen by a restraining order since April. Judge Burroughs now vacates the policy. Assume DOE will appeal. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Therefore, it is hereby ORDERED:
1. The Court has subject matter and personal jurisdiction over this action and the
Parties.
2. Venue is proper before this District.
3. For the reasons stated in this Court’s Memorandum and Order on Plaintiffs’
motion for preliminary injunction, Doc. No. 62, judgment is entered in favor of the Plaintiffs on
Count I (illegal departure from negotiated cost rates in violation of 2 C.F.R. 200.414), Count IV
(arbitrary and capricious), and Count VI (retroactivity) of their Complaint against the
Department of Energy and Chris Wright, in his official capacity as Secretary of the Department
of Energy.
4. Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. § 706(2), the Court VACATES, in its entirety, Policy Flash
2025-22. The Court DECLARES that Policy Flash 2025-22 (1) departed from negotiated cost
rates in violation of 2 C.F.R. § 200.414; (2) was arbitrary and capricious; and (3) was
impermissibly retroactive.
5. As vacating Policy Flash 2025-22 moots Plaintiffs’ remaining claims, Counts II,
III, and V of Plaintiffs’ Complaint are dismissed without prejudice.
This is an appealable Final Judgment. It is SO ORDERED.
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Dan Garisto @dangaristo.bsky.social · 01/07/2025
Amid the Trump administration's attacks on science, the National Academies are undergoing upheaval—a 30% reduction in its 1200-person staff by year's end, and possibly a vote of no confidence for its leader, Marcia McNutt. Jeff Tollefson & I report: www.nature.com/articles/d41...
nature.com
Turmoil at US science academy as Trump cuts force layoffs
Efforts by leaders of the US national academies to adjust to the new political reality have spurred member concerns about capitulation and censorship.
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Dan Garisto @dangaristo.bsky.social · 30/06/2025
This is just from the University of California, it seems. Still, a substantial amount of terminated grants there.
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Krystal Vasquez @kvasquez.bsky.social · 30/06/2025
You can read the judge's order here: www.courtlistener.com/docket/70459... @science.org also put out a great summary of the case and what might happen next: www.science.org/content/arti...
science.org
Federal judge orders agencies to restore grants to University of California scientists
Ruling on first class action suit reversing terminations may be expanded to entire government
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