In this issue:   Biden administration requests 16% increase in domestic spending, $4 billion for climate and sustainability research Budget request includes $10.2 billion for NSF. Interior creates climate taskforce, rescinds Trump-era secretarial orders The taskforce will “coordinate work across the [Interior] Department, including accelerating renewable energy development and identifying actions to foster investments in energy communities.” Congress Senate confirms…

President Joe Biden released a 58-page discretionary “Skinny Budget” request April 9 totaling $1.5 trillion to fund the federal government for Fiscal Year 2022 (FY2022). The budget request calls for a 16% increase to $769 billion in non-defense discretionary spending and a 1.7% increase to $753 billion for defense spending. It would increase funding for federal science agencies and there…

In this issue:   Biden Infrastructure Plan Includes Funding for Natural Infrastructure, Scientific Infrastructure $2 trillion plan includes $50 billion to create a new technology directorate for NSF. Lawmakers Introduce Competing Proposals to Increase Science Funding House Science Committee bill crease a new Science and Engineering Solutions directorate at NSF. Senate Confirms Biden’s Pick for Deputy Secretary of Energy, Biden…

ESA President Kathleen Weathers reflects on where ESA is as a Society, and a community, on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice.

The Ecological Society of America condemns the escalating pattern of crimes occurring in our country over the past year against the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities.

In this issue: Biden Picks Ecologist to Lead Climate Science Work, Senate Confirmed EPA administrator and Interior Secretary Former NOAA administrator and ESA president Jane Lubchenco joins the Biden administration. National Academies: U.S. climate research must target urgent risks, consequences Report calls on the U.S. government to shift the focus of climate change research from long-term natural consequences to how…

In this issue   Senate Confirms Agriculture, Energy and Commerce Secretaries, Advances Interior Nomination Tom Vilsack, Jennifer Granholm and Gina Raimondo join Biden’s cabinet. Rep. Deb Haaland (D-NM)’s confirmation appears likely. House Democrats Introduce Bill to Reach Net-Zero Emissions by 2050 The legislation is similar to a bill introduced in 2020. Congress Congress passed $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package including…

In This Issue: White House National Climate Task Forces Meets for the First Time New Climate Innovation Working Group will work towards an Advanced Research Projects Agency – Climate Congress House Science Committee and House Natural Resource Committee announces Committee leadership. Executive Branch Acting U.S. Geological Survey Director rescinded memo restricting how agency scientists use climate change models and data….

In 2020, NEON and the Ecological Society of America established a NEON-ESA Early Career Scholars (NECS) program to cultivate and support a group of early career scholars. Read some excerpts from our Early Career Scholars talking about their experience.

Special Policy News 2: The Transition In This Issue: Biden Cabinet Nominees Advance Through the Senate Senate Environment and Public Works Committee holds confirmation hearing for EPA administrator nominee. Biden Administration Tackles Climate Change, Issues Scientific Integrity Memorandum, Pledges to Conserve 30% of Lands and Waters by 2030 and more Orders create the White House Office of Domestic Climate Policy…

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a huge effect on how we interact with each other and how we communicate scientific information to advance research. Working and interacting virtually has affected all societies and every field of science and ESA and ecology are no exception. Nearly all in-person conferences have been converted to an online format, the so-called virtual conference. 2020…

Following his day-one actions committing the U.S. to rejoining the Paris Agreement, cancelling the KeystoneXL pipeline and more (see ESA Policy News, Jan. 25, 2021), President Joe Biden signed another executive order “tackling the climate crisis at home and abroad” Jan. 27, as part of a series of ‘Climate Day’ announcements. The order creates the White House Office of Domestic…