Latest news with #InclusionandAccessibility
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
This will ‘devastate scientific research': 16 states sue the Trump administration over National Science Foundation directive
Sign up for CNN's Wonder Theory science newsletter. Explore the universe with news on fascinating discoveries, scientific advancements and more. Attorneys general from 16 mostly Democrat-controlled US states filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration Wednesday, arguing that some of the federal government's attempts to gut National Science Foundation research programs are illegal. The suit, filed in federal court Wednesday afternoon, asks a judge to put a stop to NSF policies that are halting millions of dollars' worth of research spending. The move comes after the NSF announced in April that it would do away with hundreds of grants — mostly related to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA) and misinformation research — that amounted to more than $230 million. The cancellations have mounted since then, so far affecting a total of 1,753 grants worth nearly $1.4 billion across numerous areas of research, according to NSF data. Neither the National Science Foundation nor the White House responded to a request for comment. The agency also announced a new policy in May that caps how much researchers can spend on 'indirect costs,' which include operating expenses such as the use of laboratories, safety programs and equipment, at 15%. (The cap is currently on hold through June 13, pending a legal hearing.) The attorneys general argue such a policy would 'slash millions of dollars for groundbreaking scientific research across the country, jeopardizing national security, the economy, and public health,' according to a news release from New York State Attorney General Letitia James, who is coleading the suit with Hawaii State Attorney General Anne Lopez. The coalition's lawsuit also argues that the Trump administration's efforts to shutter research related to diversity is illegal. The NSF 'has a Congressionally-mandated focus on improving diversity in STEM fields,' according to the news release from James' office. 'Congress has instructed in law that a 'core strategy' of NSF's work must be to increase the participation of people who have historically been left out of STEM occupations.' A federal law states that the National Science Foundation should work to increase the 'participation of women and individuals from underrepresented groups in STEM.' The new lawsuit argues that recent NSF directives 'violate the Administrative Procedure Act and the Constitution by unlawfully changing NSF policy and ignoring Congress's intent for how NSF should function,' according to the news release. 'The lawsuit seeks a court order ruling NSF's new policies are illegal and blocking them from being implemented.' The National Science Foundation is a $9 billion agency charged with advancing discoveries across the scientific spectrum, largely by evaluating the scientific merit of grant requests and doling out dollars, mostly to universities and other research institutions. The agency's staff has been asked in recent weeks to ensure funding requests comply with Trump's executive orders that have sought to dismantle DEIA-related activities and a 'free speech' directive that argues efforts to combat misinformation can be 'used to infringe on the constitutionally protected speech rights of American citizens across the United States.' Many researchers, stakeholders, and institutions that work with the NSF have decried the new policies. The Federation of Associations in Behavioral & Brain Sciences, for example, said in an April 24 statement that the Trump administration's directives have put scientists in the 'middle of a political tug-of-war, wasting valuable time and resources.' Former NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan, who was tapped to lead the agency during Trump's first term, also resigned in late April — 16 months before his term was set to end. 'I believe I have done all I can to advance the critical mission of the agency and feel that it is time for me to pass the baton to new leadership,' Panchanathan said on April 24 in parting remarks, which were provided to CNN by an agency spokesperson. The White House has proposed a sweeping 55% budget cut for the NSF, and the agency could face sweeping layoffs. The coalition of states suing the Trump administration over NSF changes include New York, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Wisconsin and Washington. The lawsuit mirrors another filed May 5 by 19 states and Washington, DC, against the Trump administration for allegedly taking 'a wrecking ball to the Department of Health and Human Services.' The Trump administration had in late March announced plans to cut some discretionary federal health spending and transform several health agencies. The restructuring plans include consolidating the 28 agencies of HHS into 15 new divisions, including the Administration for a Healthy America. The lawsuit over the HHS changes alleges that the impacts of the restructuring already have been harmful, leading to the shutdown of some regional HHS offices that provide services to low-income families, children with disabilities, youth experiencing homelessness and preschool development programs.
Yahoo
27-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump administration cancels lease for NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies lab in New York City
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. It would appear that the latest wave of U.S. federal program cuts fueled by the Trump administration has affected NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) lab in New York City, a branch of the agency dedicated to studying climate change and other Earth sciences. On Friday (April 25), news outlets such as CNN and SpaceNews reported that GISS's lease on office space in a Columbia University building in Manhattan's Upper West Side is set to be canceled. According to SpaceNews, an April 24 email sent to Goddard employees and signed by Makenzie Lystrup, director of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland (the parent organization of GISS), stated that the lease will end on May 31. The news outlet says the lease, which costs the agency $3.03 million annually, was originally supposed to last through August 2031. However, GISS Director Gavin Schmidt assured CNN that "the work continues, the data, the products, the science will continue because science is done by people, not by buildings." As of now, NASA says employees will be placed on "temporary remote work agreements while NASA seeks and evaluates options for a new space for the GISS team." Lystrup reportedly says the termination is related to "ongoing reviews by the current administration of all government leases," SpaceNews said of the obtained email's contents, but it remains unclear whether the Department of Governmental Efficiency (DOGE) spearheaded the matter. It is worth considering what role DOGE had to play in the decision because the department, led by SpaceX billionaire founder Elon Musk, is behind several other changes happening at NASA. For instance, DOGE staffers have recently been given significant access to agency systems and documents without clear disclosure of their workflow— to the dismay of some politicians because of possible threats to national security and conflicts of interest (due to SpaceX's role as a frequent provider of launch services for NASA). News of GISS's lease cancellation also comes amid several other changes that DOGE, in conjunction with the Trump administration, has provoked, such as the cutting of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility programs as well as the sudden layoffs of thousands of federal workers in the name of saving what the department considers "wasted taxpayer money." Related Stories: — Trump administration could slash NASA science budget by 50%, reports suggest — 'Their loss diminishes us all': Scientists emphasize how Trump's mass NOAA layoffs endanger the world — Elon Musk's DOGE team given 'alarming degree' of access to NASA systems, House Democrats say Reports have also been circulating about budget "passback documents" that suggest the White House plans to cut NASA's science budget by about 50%, which could lead to huge consequences like the closing of Goddard Space Flight Center and the gutting of in-development missions like the highly anticipated Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope. It is also of note that GISS's lease in particular was canceled. Not only does it deal with Earth science projects that fall under the umbrella of NASA science programs that are possibly in danger, but it is also focused on climate change research, which the Trump administration seems to be specifically targeting. Over 800 workers at the U.S. National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration (NOAA) were terminated abruptly in March, for instance, and the White House's general decision-making as of late appears to align with a policy blueprint laid out by a conservative think tank called The Heritage Foundation. The Heritage Foundation describes NOAA as being part of the "climate change alarm industry" and calls for it to be dismantled and its weather forecasting operations fully commercialized.
Yahoo
06-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
NASA website removes 'First Woman' graphic novel — but here's where you can still find it
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. In 2021, NASA released a fictional graphic novel about a pioneering astronaut who becomes the first woman to step foot on the moon, Commander Callie Rodriguez, alongside her diverse crew — this novel has now been erased from the agency's main website as part of the Trump Administration's major crackdown on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA) programs. There were, in fact, two graphic novels in the series; both have sadly and suddenly vanished from the space agency's official online presence. Besides 2021's "First Woman: NASA's Promise for Humanity," there was also 2023's "First Woman: Expanding Our Universe," which centered around Commander Callie Rodriguez and her intrepid adventures as the first woman to walk on the lunar surface. That second issue showcased a racially diverse team of astronauts and their thrilling mission to the moon. The graphic novels were previously free to the public on NASA's government website and were penned by Brad Gann and Steven List with artwork courtesy of Brent Donoho and Kaitlin Reid. Through the "First Woman" series, NASA aimed to help inspire a future generation of space enthusiasts deemed the "Artemis Generation," in conjunction with the agency's endeavor to truly land the first woman and first person of color on the moon via the Artemis program. "Diversity is at the core of NASA's missions, and the reason we continue breaking the boundaries of what's possible," NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said back in 2023 regarding the now-banished series. "'First Woman' embodies the rich history of countless women who broke barriers and continue to lead NASA to the stars. So much of what NASA does is to inspire future explorers because each member of the Artemis Generation should feel represented in our missions. Callie's story reminds us that we will do what has never been done before — land the first woman on the moon, and it will inspire the world." — NASA denies setting 'new bans' for employees amid reports of removing LGBTQI+ symbols from offices — NASA cutting programs, workforce to comply with Trump order — 'Their loss diminishes us all': Scientists emphasize how Trump's mass NOAA layoffs endanger the world NASA has been working in the background to remove all language that specifically points out landing the first person of color and the first woman on the moon from all of its Artemis program pages. In compliance with President Trump's executive order, the agency has also excised wording around DEIA, environmental justice issues, women in leadership roles and Indigenous people from all of its public websites. This came on the heels of NASA canceling its Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity. However, though Commander Callie might be unceremoniously booted from NASA's websites, thanks to the digital library known as the Internet Archive, issues can still be read on the Wayback Machine here.
Los Angeles Times
27-03-2025
- Business
- Los Angeles Times
Reader Letter for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility Magazine 2023
As 2023 draws to a close, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA) remains a perennial hot-button topic that companies, no matter what business they're in, must contend with not only to function on a day-to-day basis but to sustain future growth. It is clear that implementing DEIA initiatives is vital for recruiting and retaining talent as well as attracting investors, but many businesses are slow to adopt clear objectives and actionable strategies. More awareness, transparency and effort are needed to drive change and instill a sense of acceptance among the workforce across America. On October 19, L.A. Times B2B Publishing hosted the 2023 DEIA Forum at the SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills. A number of informative panel discussions, featuring diversity leaders from a variety of industries, enlightened attendees with firsthand advice and insights on several relevant topics, including the urgent need for increased accessibility, how DEIA proponents are breaking barriers and belonging in a remote workspace culture. We summarize each panel here in the pages of this magazine. I would like to thank each of the sponsors who helped make the event possible. We greatly appreciate the support of Diamond Sponsor The Change Company and Platinum Sponsors CommonSpirit Health, Easterseals Southern California, Phaidon International and University of West Los Angeles. New this year is the Top Rated Workplaces in Southern California Survey where we rank small and midsize-large companies based on employees' anonymous replies to a questionnaire sent out by our partner DataJoe. The results follow several informative articles on trending DEIA news. In the remaining pages, we're proud to recognize individuals at numerous Southern California companies who are spearheading change and leading the way to creating more inclusive workplaces. We hope you are inspired by their achievements in this realm.
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
This OPM data scientist was making government more efficient. Trump is firing people like him.
Ben Jaques-Leslie (courtesy photo) Ben Jaques-Leslie is a data scientist with the U.S. Office of Personnel Management based in St. Paul who worked on internal programs to make the agency more efficient and transparent. He took the Trump administration's deferred resignation offer after officials directed the agency to cut 70% of its workforce and end remote work options, and is now looking for other jobs in public service. OPM is the federal government's HR division, which means Jaques-Leslie's work often touched on other areas of the government as they sought improvements. Despite OPM's vast brief, it's worth noting that unlike many employers — whose main expense is typically labor — federal employees don't comprise the bulk of the federal budget. As the Washington Post reported last year, the 2.3 million federal workers were paid $293 billion last year, 4.3% of the nation's $6.8 trillion budget. Jaques-Leslie recently spoke with the Reformer about the work he did and what the government is losing as a result of the administration's indiscriminate, across-the-board cuts to the federal workforce. The following conversation has been edited for length and clarity, and links have been added for context. We were the Office of Strategy and Innovation. I don't know if we still exist, lots of things have been changing. I was in a team of evaluators. The Evidence Act requires agencies to have an evaluation officer and produce learning agendas — evidence to support policymaking — and capacity assessments. I worked on the team that produced the learning agenda and did evaluations of programs and data from OPM. Yeah. My main evaluation was on the effects of remote work on applications and candidates for federal jobs. We were looking at an evaluation of the pay increase of TSA officials. We were doing evaluations of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility programs. We did evaluations of the Presidential Management Fellows program which, you know, are a little bit academic now. And we were working on a big evaluation of the Postal Service Health Benefits Program. It's ironic, right? There's a great deal of irony in the idea that for 'efficiency' you cut the group that was meant to help understand government programs to make them work more efficiently. But that's exactly what's happened. There was no work to do. It just became very clear early on that there was no interest in any of the work we were doing. As the stuff rolled through the system we stopped doing more and more work because we're dependent on what the leadership is telling us for this big strategic planning. But there was no information and no communication, and everything quickly turned to 'how do we get rid of as much staff as possible?' And at that point it's kind of hard to do any work. Like I don't know what you want me to do. I was actually excited to start working on this Postal Service health benefits program. I was going to do some data science work on that, and I learned that the leadership who had stepped in weren't even aware of this program. I feel like our work is non-political. We can ask questions that are valuable to whatever outcomes you want to get. Maybe I disagree with that outcome, but as a researcher or somebody who likes to answer questions I'm happy to explore them. I'm also happy to be like 'that program doesn't work, we should do something better.' But there appears to be no interest in actually asking questions or learning. Their model of how they think about federal workers is just wrong. Every federal worker that I know, our objectives are to follow the statutes, and listen to leadership and directions from the executive. It's not that we are opposed to any particular leadership, we just are trying to follow the laws. In another world you would use the federal workforce to pursue your aims. It seems like a huge wasted opportunity to spend the energy of dismantling it or attacking it, instead of using it to pursue other kinds of goals. Also, the people who are taking the deferment are not necessarily going to be the least efficient. All of the information technology people at OPM left because they have outside options. They can get jobs relatively easily in the private sector. The idea that it's just gonna be more efficient to cut people – it doesn't seem like that's likely. Our work was about trying to learn how to make government work better and more efficiently. I would have been very open to investigate the questions they had, but I didn't have an opportunity to. I think it'll become obvious that the government is not working well pretty quickly. Or maybe not even quickly, but in the medium term. It'll be pretty obvious that some services are not operating as well. It's hard for me to imagine any part of the federal government working well in the near term. I really was proud of serving the government and doing my work, and I was hopeful and excited to continue to serve the people, and I hope to continue in public service. I think there's just a lot of things that are hidden: The things government does that people don't perceive until it is taken away.
