The Week of August 17, 2026
SF Gate. Researchers, advocates rail against government's efforts to end workforce data collection
Civil rights groups and researchers at a public hearing called on a federal agency to continue its annual collection of workplace demographic data, arguing that a proposal to end the practice will undermine efforts to fight discrimination.
The Washington Post. Scientists say US will suffer if White House bars research with China
A proposed Office of Management and Budget (OMB) rule will ban all research funding for US science collaboration with China, which has surpassed the US as the world’s top investor and producer of science and engineering research and development.
Guardian. Trump administration finalizes rule to end federal support for gender-affirming care
Move blocking funds through Medicaid and Chip to make it harder for vulnerable children to get healthcare, experts say.
Nature. NIH limits funding for research on the health effects of public policy
According to internal NIH documents, policymakers (who make health-impacting decisions on Americans’ access to abortion, clean air, firearms etc.) are not “in scope” of NIH research. Restricting federal funding to policy-focused research “risks safety and effectiveness,” one scientist told Nature.
Inside Higher Ed. Concerns Remain Over ED’s Plan to Spend Expiring Institute of Educational Science (IES) Dollars
The Department of Education says it will spend the $316 million in research funds that it has failed to obligate for fiscal year 2025, but education advocates suing the Department and the OMB argue that the new spending plan “lacks clear detail about where funds are going,” and is short by $10 million.
TPM. A New Draft Rule for the Census Seeks Sweeping Changes to How Political Power Is Allocated
Talking Points Memo’s (TPM) analysis of proposed changes to the Census concludes that, by no longer counting undocumented immigrants and halting race and ethnicity data collection, the Trump administration would “diminish blue states’ representation in Congress,” and make it harder to enforce voting rights.
Forbes. NIH Proposes Big Change In How Grant Applications Evaluated
The NIH has proposed to stop sharing the scores assigned to grant applications by their peers, instead sorting applications into vague categories like “Competitive,” and “Not discussed." This adds a layer of opacity to a grant review process that is becoming more influenced by political appointees.
Seattle Times. Trump administration denies nuclear safety watchdog crucial access
The Department of Energy is preventing the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board–“the nation’s only independent safety agency for work on nuclear weapons”–from fulfilling its duty to oversee nuclear weapons sites by denying access to records and meetings, and refusing to approve the safety board’s reports.
Grist. The EPA's data on cancer risk from air pollution has gone dark
The Environmental Protection Agency left cancer risk estimates out of its latest air pollution data.