By: Lexi Shultz
In 2026, AGU’s Science Policy & Government Relations team continued our “Days of Action” initiative to empower our science community to push back against a variety of systemic assaults on the federal science enterprise. This year alone, we’ve seen the U.S. Administration work to shut down critical ocean and atmospheric scientific infrastructure, block congressionally mandated funding from being spent on Earth and space science grants, eliminate government scientific expertise, stymie international scientific collaboration, and, most recently, subject all federal science to political litmus tests.
In response, AGU – both our staff and our amazing volunteers – has stepped up like never before. In three AGU congressional visits days, scientists held hundreds of congressional meetings; through our online action center, our community made hundreds of calls and sent thousands of emails and comments to Congress and the White House. Scientists have attended trainings and webinars, used other resources developed by AGU staff, and are now signing up to lead or participate in AGU-organized in-state meetings with elected officials and political candidates.
While these efforts alone cannot fully stop the harm being done, it is being noticed on the Hill. Members of Congress have funded science at robust levels, sent letters, and written legislative language to try to curtail what the Administration is doing, and the removal of ocean observing equipment was reversed.
Personally, I also feel incredibly moved by the way both AGU leadership and our community are mobilizing at this moment. The stories of the ongoing damage to our scientific infrastructure and workforce are often devastating. I think constantly about the scientists who want nothing more than to contribute knowledge and well-being to our nation and world, and about the students and early career folks struggling to see if they can pursue the careers they envisioned. But the knowledge that we are fighting the good fight with one another – collaborating, speaking out, being creative in our responses – has been incredibly restorative. I truly believe that if we keep coming together and growing the community of action-oriented scientists, we can get through this.
AGU Vice President Lexi Shultz leads AGU’s Science Policy and Government Relations team. In her role, she focuses on ensuring that AGU members have the tools and resources needed to communicate and engage effectively with legislators and ensuring that science is increasingly part of policy decision-making.
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