NOAA Staff Directed Not to Communicate With ‘Foreign Nationals’.

Thousands of Federal Health Research Employees Fired.

The order directs Federal agencies to focus on groundbreaking medical advancements and innovative treatments to combat and prevent cancer. It establishes the Make America Healthy Again Commission to address the root causes of America’s chronic disease crisis. The order also emphasizes the need for transparency and the elimination of conflicts of interest in federally-funded health research, and promotes the use of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence for research in genomics and immunotherapy.

The National Institutes of Health ahs been directed to cut $2.6 billion of contracts. The deadline for the cuts is April 8. The figure represents 35% of the agency's spending on contracts. These contracts support scientists at NIH labs, as well as scientists and staff and academic institutions, and in the private sector.

The Department of Energy cut the "overhead rate" on academic grants from 30% to 15%. Overhead fees fund "indirect" costs related to research such as administrative work, libraries, utilities, and others. Previously the National Institutes of Health cut its overhead rate to academic bio-medical labs. A federal judge has said the NIH cannot cut its overhead rates.

The proclamation recognizes April 26, 2025 as World Intellectual Property Day. It emphasizes the importance of safeguarding American intellectual property and innovation, and encourages citizens to celebrate the achievements of creators and inventors. The proclamation also mentions past actions to protect intellectual property, including the establishment of the Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, the use of tariffs to secure stronger intellectual property protections in trade deals, and an executive order aimed at removing barriers to American leadership in artificial intelligence.

Trump II administration has let go hundreds of climate scientists who volunteered to produce the nation’s next climate assessment, which is supposed to be completed in 2028. No reason was given for the dismissals.

Nature reports that NSF staffers have been told to stop all new funding activities. They’ve also been told to screen applications to confirm research aligns with Trump II administration priorities.

The EPA will transfer 130 scientists from its independent research group to chemical review and approval labs. The scientists had been working on health and environmental research.

The order directs federal agencies to increase oversight and security of biological research, especially gain-of-function research. The Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), in coordination with other agencies, is instructed to end federal funding of such research in countries where there is insufficient oversight. The OSTP is also tasked with revising or replacing the 2024 policies for oversight of dual use research and nucleic acid synthesis screening within 120 and 90 days, respectively.

The president withdrew the nomination of Dr. Janette Nesheiwat for Surgeon General after questions about her medical degree were raised. The president also announced Nesheiwat's replacement: Casey Means, a wellness influencer with a medical degree from Stanford. She has been an advocate of of the view that chronic illnesses are metabolic in origin. (RFK Jr shares those views.)

In a major restructuring, the National Science Foundation will slash the number of temporary scientists it employs to review grant requests from more than 350 to 70. In a memo, NSF leadership said the reduced staffing will be more in line with the agency's expected reduced future funding.

Hundreds of medical researchers at Harvard learned by email this week that their federal grants had been rescinded. The government has said it would pull $2.7 billion in federal funding from Harvard researchers. The university has sued the administration to reverse the cuts.

The journal Nature has tallied up the number, and value, of federal research grants the Trump administration has cut from Harvard researchers: nearly 1,000 worth $2.4 billion. By far the largest number of deleted grants were offered by the National Institutes of Health, for bio-medical research (600 grants worth $2.2 billion over multiple years). Other federal agencies to cut grants are the Department of Defense (56 grants, $105 million), and the National Science Foundation (193 grants, $150 million).

The order directs the Department of Energy (DOE) to expedite the review, approval, and deployment of advanced nuclear reactors. The DOE is instructed to issue guidance on what constitutes a qualified test reactor within 60 days, and to revise its regulations, guidance, and practices to expedite the deployment of such reactors within 90 days. The aim is to have qualified test reactors operational at DOE-owned or controlled facilities within two years of a substantially complete application being submitted.

The order directs federal agencies to enhance the integrity and transparency of scientific research, in response to concerns about the reproducibility and credibility of scientific findings. The directive emphasizes the need for rigorous, unbiased peer review and data transparency, and the use of the most reliable and impartial scientific evidence in federal decisions. It also calls for acknowledging scientific uncertainties and ensuring accurate communication of scientific data. [Editor's note: Despite the language about 'open science' in this order, it requires researchers to seek review from agency political appointees, among other anti-science requirements. More discussion here.]

The National Geodetic Survey, an agency within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the oldest scientific agency in the U.S., is struggling to carry out its work due to doge-directed losses of funding and staff. The NGS maintains the government's framework of spatial information: latitudes, longitudes, elevations, etc. The agency's work is critical to the accuracy of GPS devices, infrastructure design and construction, floodplain mapping, and more. More cuts loom on the horizon: The NOAA budget proposed by the Office of Management and Budget cuts the National Geodetic Survey's parent organization's funding in half.

Energy Secretary Chris Wright said his department would cancel $3.7 billion in grants funding 24 projects aimed at developing decarbonization or carbon sequestration technology. Wright's statement included the usual administration boilerplate that accompanies cuts like these: "The Trump administration is doing our due diligence to ensure we are utilizing taxpayer dollars to strengthen our national security, bolster affordable, reliable energy sources and advance projects that generate the highest possible return on investment." These program cancellations are part of a broader audit of 179 climate programs worth $15 billion.

The Trump administration has ended a $258 million program searching for an H.I.V. vaccine. The program conducts research that lays the groundwork for future clinical testing. National Institutes of Health officials said the agency would refocus on currently effective treatments. Earlier, the administration had cut funding for international H.I.V. mitigation and separately, nixed funding for vaccine research carried out by Moderna.

President Trump is withdrawing the nomination of Jared Isaacman, a billionaire associate of DOGE leader Elon Musk, to head-up NASA. No reason for step was offered in the president's announcement, save for a cryptic comment about Isaacman's "prior associations."

The National Weather Service said it would hire about 100 new employees to "fill positions at field offices where there is the greatest operational need." Earlier this year the NWS let go almost 600 employees during cuts ordered by the Trump administration.

The order directs federal agencies to update regulations and standards to facilitate supersonic flight over land. Specifically, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is instructed to repeal the prohibition on overland supersonic flight and establish an interim noise-based certification standard within 180 days. The FAA is also directed to issue a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to establish a standard for supersonic aircraft noise certification within 18 months. The Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) is tasked with coordinating supersonic research and development, and the Secretary of Transportation is directed to engage international organizations to align global supersonic regulatory approaches.

Secretary of Health Robert F. Kennedy Jr fired all 17 members of a vaccine advisory committee, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, and said he would replace them. The Health Secretary said the firings were required to rebuild "public confidence in vaccine science." He said the "new members will prioritize public health and evidence-based medicine. The Committee will no longer function as a rubber stamp for industry profit-taking agendas." Medical groups, including the American Medical Association, denounced the move.

Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F Kennedy Jr chose eight people for an influential vaccine advisory panel. Picks include a well-known pediatric infectious disease expert and several anti-vax or vaccine-skeptical people. Earlier the Secretary fired all 17 members of the Advisory Committee in Immunization Practices. The committee requires eight to function. The first meeting of the RFK, Jr selected roster is June 25-27.

The Environmental Protection Agency plans to eliminate its scientific research arm and will begin firing hundreds of scientists. The Office of Research and Development provides the research that backstops almost all of the agency's policies and regulations. The office had around 1,100 employees at the beginning of the Trump II administration, but more than 300 have already left, having accepted DOGE deferred resignation offers. The department didn't say how many of the remaining 830 employees would ultimately be let go.

The order directs federal agencies to collaborate with counterparts in the United Kingdom on joint opportunities in strategic science and technology disciplines, including artificial intelligence (AI), civil nuclear, fusion, and quantum technologies. Specific areas of cooperation include accelerating AI innovation through joint research programs, advancing innovative R&D, promoting AI exports, and developing secure AI infrastructure. Agencies involved include the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. National Science Foundation, the U.S. National Institutes of Health, the UK Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, and the UK Research and Innovation among others.

The order directs the Senate to consider the nomination of Jared Isaacman, from Pennsylvania, for the position of Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), following the resignation of Bill Nelson.

The order directs federal agencies to launch the "Genesis Mission", a national initiative focused on accelerating the application of artificial intelligence (AI) for transformative scientific discovery. The Secretary of Energy is responsible for implementing this mission within the Department of Energy (DOE), including the establishment and operation of the American Science and Security Platform. This platform will provide high-performance computing resources, AI modeling and analysis frameworks, computational tools, secure access to datasets, and experimental and production tools. The Assistant to the President for Science and Technology will provide general leadership of the mission, coordinating participating executive departments and agencies.

The order directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to review and potentially update the United States core childhood vaccine schedule. The review will compare the US recommendations, which currently include vaccinations for 18 diseases, with the practices of peer developed countries like Denmark, Japan, and Germany, which recommend fewer vaccinations. If the review finds that the practices of these countries are superior, the US schedule will be updated to align with these findings while maintaining access to currently available vaccines.

The order directs federal agencies to prioritize American space superiority through various initiatives. This includes returning Americans to the moon by 2028, establishing a lunar outpost by 2030, and enhancing commercial launch services. The order also mandates the development of next-generation missile defense technologies by 2028 and the creation of a national security space architecture. It aims to foster economic growth by attracting at least $50 billion of additional investment in American space markets by 2028 and replacing the International Space Station with a commercial alternative by 2030. Additionally, the order encourages the utilization of space nuclear power, with a goal to deploy a lunar surface reactor by 2030.

The order directs federal agencies to increase research into medical marijuana and cannabidiol (CBD). It highlights the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) support for marijuana's use in treating certain medical conditions and the Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) recommendation to reclassify marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). The order also points to the potential of hemp-derived cannabinoids to improve patient symptoms and calls for enhanced research infrastructure to better inform doctors and patients about marijuana and CBD use.

The order directs federal agencies to accelerate research, review, and patient access for psychedelic drugs (including ibogaine compounds) to treat serious mental illnesses by prioritizing FDA review and creating pathways under the Right to Try Act. It instructs the FDA to issue National Priority Vouchers for qualifying Breakthrough Therapy psychedelic drugs and directs the FDA and DEA to establish handling authorizations and access pathways for eligible patients and treating physicians.