Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Kathleen Johnson

Dr. David Miller 🏳️‍🌈 @davidimiller.bsky.social · Jul 10

🧪 BREAKING (good news): Senate subcommittee says NO! to Trump's proposed slashes to NASA & NSF funding.

Today, the subcommittee said to keep NASA + NSF funding at $33.9 billion, the same as in FY24.

See 7:15 below. Full Senate appropriations committee meets tomorrow about it.

🧵 1/3

Subcommittee Markup of the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act | United States Senate Committee on Appropriations

United States Senate Committee on Appropriations

www.appropriations.senate.gov

18 370 1K

Reposted by Kathleen Johnson

Jessica Tierney @leafwax.bsky.social · Jul 7

As of today, all current NOAA Climate and Global Change postdoctoral fellows have been furloughed due to the Dept of Commerce not releasing the funding for the program. In addition no new Fellows were awarded this year. cpaess.ucar.edu/cgc

NOAA Climate & Global Change (C&GC) Postdoctoral Program | Cooperative Programs for the Advancement of Earth System ScienceNOAA Climate & Global Change (C&GC) Postdoctoral Program | Cooperative Progra...

cpaess.ucar.edu

15 250 370

Reposted by Kathleen Johnson

Tyler Kingkade @tktk.bsky.social · Jun 24

NEW: A group of University of California researchers, seeking to become the first class action suit over Trump's science cuts, notch their first win with a preliminary injunction

www.nbcnews.com/politics/pol...

A federal court granted a preliminary injunction late last night to stop the Trump administration from cutting grants to University of California researchers, giving an early win to a group of faculty trying a novel approach to protect government science investments.

A group of six University of California faculty and staff sued a host of government agencies this month over the widespread elimination of research grants since Trump took office on Jan. 20. While there have already been several lawsuits challenging the abrupt grant cancellations, the University of California legal challenge seeks to become the first class action lawsuit to claw back money for all researchers within the 10-campus university system.

Judge Rita F. Lin, a Biden appointee, gave provisional class certification to all University of California researchers who had their grants canceled by the Environmental Protection Agency, National Science Foundation or National Endowment for the Humanities since Trump's inauguration without a specific explanation, or because they focused on a diversity or equity-related topic. She granted a preliminary injunction barring the agencies from terminating more grants to University of California researchers, and ordering the government to restore the funding until the court rules otherwise.

University of California researchers notch win in novel suit against Trump, continued
Lin ruled that the Trump administration's funding cancellations over diversity and equity topics violated the researchers’ First Amendment rights, and the way agencies carried them out were “arbitrary and capricious.” While the administration is entitled to promote its own chosen priorities, the executive branch “may not set out to suppress ideas it deems dangerous by trying to drive them out of the marketplace of ideas,” Lin wrote in her ruling.

1 39 210

Reposted by Kathleen Johnson

Dr. David Miller 🏳️‍🌈 @davidimiller.bsky.social · Jun 24

Y'all, this past week for science funding lawsuits has been 🔥🔥🔥

✅ Major recent wins regarding:

1. U of California researchers
2. NSF indirects
3. NIH terminations
4. EPA terminations

Plus:

5. Brand new NSF lawsuit (about terminations & slowdown of new awards)

🧵 Let's break it down

4 63 160

Reposted by Kathleen Johnson

Senator Alex Padilla @padilla.senate.gov · Jun 12

If this is how this administration responds to a Senator with a question, you can only imagine what they're doing to farmworkers, to cooks, and to day laborers throughout California and across the country.

We will hold this administration accountable.

910 4.5K 14K

Reposted by Kathleen Johnson

Jess Phoenix, Your Volcano Friend™️ @volcanojess.com · Jun 9

Newsflash: There is not a single American citizen who does not benefit in some way from the labor of undocumented people.

Period.

6 14 100

Reposted by Kathleen Johnson

Jemele Hill @jemelehill.bsky.social · Jun 9

As someone who lives in Los Angeles, don’t let social or mainstream media gaslight you into thinking there’s a violent uprising taking place here. The Trump administration is trying to punish this state and this city. He’s also setting a precedent to unleash troops on Democratic cities.

120 2.1K 6.6K

Reposted by Kathleen Johnson

Isaac G. Bryan @ib2real.bsky.social · Jun 8

Them: “LA is a full on insurrection”

Us at the protest:

170 2.8K 12K

Reposted by Kathleen Johnson

Aaron Parnas @aaronparnas.bsky.social · Jun 8

BREAKING: Kamala Harris issues statement on Los Angeles.

530 6.7K 23K

Reposted by Kathleen Johnson

Katie Porter @katieporteroc.bsky.social · Jun 6

Trump is such a small, selfish man. He would rather extract personal and political revenge on Californians because they didn’t vote for him than actually lead this nation.

This is blatantly illegal and California will absolutely block this action in court.

CNN @cnn.com · Jun 6

The Trump administration is preparing to cancel a large swath of federal funding for California, an effort which could begin as soon as Friday, according to multiple sources.

Trump preparing large-scale cancellation of federal funding for California, sources say | CNN Politics

The Trump administration is preparing to cancel a large swath of federal funding to California, an effort which could begin as soon as Friday, according to multiple sources.

www.cnn.com

25 51 250

Reposted by Kathleen Johnson

Chad Loder @chadloder.bsky.social · Jun 6

Los Angeles EMERGENCY ICE protest TODAY at 4:30pm. Please show up, share with your friends/groups

LA EMERGENCY PROTEST!
535 Alameda St, LA, CA 90012
Friday, June 6, 2025 4:30PM
STOP DEPORTATIONS NOW!
ICE HAS HUNDREDS OF MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY KIDNAPPED AND IS HOLDING THEM AT THIS LOCATION

7 150 400

Reposted by Kathleen Johnson

Kevin Anchukaitis @thirstygecko.bsky.social · Jun 2

Argh. The P4CLIMATE program solicitation will be archived (the program website itself hasn't been updated) www.nsf.gov/geo/updates/...

9 8

Reposted by Kathleen Johnson

Dr. Asmeret Asefaw Berhe @aaberhe.com · Jun 2

This is true across vast areas of STEMM.
To say that scientists are freaking out, depressed, upset, and afraid would be an understatement at this point.

James Temple @jtemple.bsky.social · Jun 2

If you’re wondering if US climate researchers are freaking out, yeah they’re freaking out.

2 27 66

Reposted by Kathleen Johnson

James Temple @jtemple.bsky.social · Jun 2

“The irony is that Trump is attacking the institutions and foundation of US science that literally made America great.”

The Trump administration has shut down more than 100 climate studies

Tens of millions of dollars in NSF grants have been slashed, and scientists fear the US is about to lose a generation of climate researchers.

www.technologyreview.com

5 42 85

Reposted by Kathleen Johnson

Gavin Schmidt @climateofgavin.bsky.social · May 31

Last day at the GISS building (Wed. May 28th). 🥲

Photo of the a large group of GISS employees/colleagues in front of Toms Restaurant with a prominent street sign saying "112th St" taken from the middle of Broadway. Credit: Tricia Baron.

50 150 730

Reposted by Kathleen Johnson

Allison Jacobel @ajacobel.bsky.social · May 31

Goodbye REUs, goodbye GRFPs, goodbye CAREERs (which ironically I just finished writing today). This is the end of the road for all early-career scientists. If you aren't enraged you aren't paying attention.

6 82 160

Reposted by Kathleen Johnson

Abigail Swann, PhD @ecoclimatelab.bsky.social · May 30

Make sure to catch the #SaveAmericasForecasts 💯 hour livestream! It's an inspiring collection of talks bringing attention to the need for federal funding for climate and weather research. For those of us in the field it's also comforting to hear familiar voices standing up in solidarity for science.

The Weather & Climate Livestream @wclivestream.bsky.social · May 27

Our 💯 hours to #SaveAmericasForecasts starts tomorrow!

Tune in to hear over 200+ US meteorologists and climate scientists share the importance of federally funded weather and climate research!

wclivestream.com

2 5

Reposted by Kathleen Johnson

Dr. David Miller 🏳️‍🌈 @davidimiller.bsky.social · May 28

🧪 YAASSSSS: 16 state AGs just sued NSF for its illegal changes in "agency priorities"

The broad scope would seem to not only address grant terminations...but also the underlying basis for closing programs, returning proposals without review, etc.

The filing: www.doj.state.or.us/wp-content/u...

a man wearing a hat and an orange shirt says " get her jade "

Alt: A man wearing a hat and an orange shirt says " get her jade "

media.tenor.com

3 72 360

Reposted by Kathleen Johnson

American Meteorological Society @ametsoc.org · May 28

Federal weather & climate science is under threat. Starting TODAY at 3:00 PM ET, join a coalition of scientists--including AMS leaders--for a 100-hour livestream. Learn what federal science does for you, ask questions, and help build awareness to "Save Our Forecasts": wclivestream.com

Graphic for the Weather & Climate Livestream.

5 170 230

Reposted by Kathleen Johnson

Terry McGlynn @hormiga.bsky.social · May 20

We should have every member of the national academy release their own public statement on the value of diversity, equity, and inclusion in doing the best science.

Colin Carlson @colincarlson.bsky.social · May 20

The National Academy of Sciences is a private, non-profit institution. No one made them host a speaker who said that DEI "degrade our scientific enterprise." Would be nice to see some Academy members speak out on this (or what's the point) www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-st...

Remarks by Director Kratsios at the National Academy of Sciences

Remarks by Director Kratsios at the National Academy of Sciences REINVIGORATING AMERICA’S SCIENTIFIC ENTERPRISE AS PREPARED FOR DELIVERY Washington, D.C.

www.whitehouse.gov

1 24 75

Reposted by Kathleen Johnson

Alessandra Quigley @alessandraquig.bsky.social · May 17

DOGE claims NASA GISS is being evicted to save money, but it actually costs taxpayers more to remove us. GSA is on the hook for our lease until 2031, regardless of whether we occupy the building, and we all have to be "in person" by September. Any other place has a higher marginal cost than $0.

IFPTE @ifpte.bsky.social · May 17

In response to NASA’s decision to force IFPTE-represented employees at NASA’s Goddard to move out of their offices in New York City, IFPTE altered Members of Congress that this action is not only disruptive, but wastes federal resources and harms the critical work of these scientists.

IFPTE Urges Lawmakers to Stop NASA from Moving Goddard Institute for Space Studies Out of Their Offices — IFPTE

In response to NASA’s decision to force IFPTE-represented employees at NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) to move out of their offices in New York City, IFPTE altered Members of Congres...

www.ifpte.org

1 12 23

Reposted by Kathleen Johnson

Stand Up for Science! @standupforscience.bsky.social · May 10

HAPPY 75th, NSF!

We’re celebrating this milestone by highlighting some of NSF’s most transformative accomplishments—innovations that have shaped our world and continue to drive progress in health, technology, the environment, and beyond.

Read on 🧵(1/11):

A chocolate cake with red and white decorations and lit candles shaped as the number 75. Bold text reads: ‘The NSF Turns 75 Today. What has it done over the past 7 decades?’ The background is a celebratory red with a spray-paint texture.

8 410 800

Reposted by Kathleen Johnson

Dr. Jeff Masters @drjeffmasters.bsky.social · May 9

“This isn't about merit or budgets because NSF has a tiny imprint on the federal budget. This is all about controlling information and knowledge.”

Jeremy Bassis @bassisjeremy.bsky.social · May 9

Everyone needs to understand that dismantling NSF will have devastating long term consequences in our competitiveness and innovation in science, technology and beyond. 1/

Exclusive: NSF faces radical shake-up as officials abolish its 37 divisions

Changes seen as a response to presidential directives on what research to fund

www.science.org

28 73

Reposted by Kathleen Johnson

AGU (American Geophysical Union) @agu.org · May 10

A victory for the federal scientific workforce! We could not stand by while this irreparable harm continues at NSF, NOAA and all our scientific agencies.

TODAY the judge granted our request to temporarily HALT the mass firings at federal agencies under Trump’s Executive Order.

9 320 940

Reposted by Kathleen Johnson

Dr. Jeff Masters @drjeffmasters.bsky.social · May 9

NSF-supported Unidata announced that almost their entire staff will be furloughed as of today. This is a huge threat to weather education and research at universities--Unidata provides crucial realtime data feeds of weather data, including satellite, radar, and observations.

Philippe Papin @pppapin.bsky.social · May 9

This is a seismic gut punch to the weather enterprise.

It is impossible to overstate how important @unidata.bsky.social is in implementing many datasets/libraries (LDM, netCDF, THREDDS, metPy) we currently use in meteorological research & operations.

www.unidata.ucar.edu/blogs/news/e...

NSF Unidata Pause in Most Operations

www.unidata.ucar.edu

2 91 110