Featured Stories
Williams Crossing Pedestrian Bridge Named "Bridge of the Year" in AISC and NSBA 2026 Prize Bridge Awards
CHICAGO, Illinois, Sept. 22 -- The American Institute of Steel Construction issued the following news release:
* * *
Williams Crossing Pedestrian Bridge Named "Bridge of the Year" in AISC and NSBA 2026 Prize Bridge Awards
CHICAGO - The industry has spoken: The Williams Crossing Pedestrian Bridge in Tulsa, Okla., is the 2026 Bridge of the Year!
Presented by the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) and the National Steel Bridge Alliance (NSBA), this year's recipient was selected by popular vote among World Steel Bridge Symposium participants at NASCC: The Steel Conference; an expert
... Show Full Article
CHICAGO, Illinois, Sept. 22 -- The American Institute of Steel Construction issued the following news release:
* * *
Williams Crossing Pedestrian Bridge Named "Bridge of the Year" in AISC and NSBA 2026 Prize Bridge Awards
CHICAGO - The industry has spoken: The Williams Crossing Pedestrian Bridge in Tulsa, Okla., is the 2026 Bridge of the Year!
Presented by the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) and the National Steel Bridge Alliance (NSBA), this year's recipient was selected by popular vote among World Steel Bridge Symposium participants at NASCC: The Steel Conference; an expertjury had narrowed the field to three finalists. In addition to claiming this top honor for the structural steel industry, Williams Crossing was recognized as a national winner in the Special Purpose category.
Spanning 1,440 ft across the Arkansas River, Williams Crossing is the first multi-span, deck-stiffened plate-arch bridge in the United States. Featuring 12 spans constructed with uncoated weathering steel, the landmark structure seamlessly integrates with Tulsa's Gathering Place Park to create a scenic, durable connection for pedestrians and cyclists. The innovative design isolates the slender arches from bending forces by transferring unbalanced loads through the steel deck, yielding a light, elegant aesthetic without sacrificing structural integrity.
"The choice of steel and application of architecturally exposed structural steel permit an elegant, open cross section and an appealing curvilinear form in both plan and elevation," said judge Ron Berry, PE, PEng, general director - structures at BNSF Railway Company. "Spandrel arches using steel plate-stiffened decks are the signature feature of the Williams pedestrian crossing. The inaugural use of this concept in the U.S. required collaborative engineering, fabrication, and erection techniques where temperature forces were a primary consideration for the 12 spans. The innovative design is characterized by isolating the arches from bending by carrying unbalanced loads in the steel decks."
"Choosing steel allowed us to achieve ultra-slender arch profiles offsite while avoiding complex concrete formwork in the river," said Steve Door, director of business development at Hillsdale Fabricators, which worked on the project. "From developing custom shop fixtures to manage complex 3D geometry to careful planning of construction sequencing and methodology, this project represents a masterpiece of collaborative steel engineering, fabrication, and erection."
The project was delivered through close coordination across the entire project team, including owner Stonebridge Group, LLC, and the George Kaiser Family Foundation; structural engineer schlaich bergermann partner (sbp); general contractor Crossland Construction Company; steel fabricator Hillsdale Fabricators; detailer Esskay Structures; steel erector Kienlen Constructors; and consultant Ruby+Associates.
To learn more about the Prize Bridge Awards and this year's winning projects, visit aisc.org/prizebridgeawards.
* * *
About the American Institute of Steel Construction
The American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC), a not-for-profit technical institute supported by the steel industry, partners with the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) community to develop safe and efficient steel specifications and codes while driving innovation to make steel the most sustainable, economic, and resilient structural material. For more than a century, AISC has been a reliable resource for information and advice on the design and construction of domestically fabricated structural steel buildings and bridges.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.aisc.org/news/williams-crossing-pedestrian-bridge-named-bridge-of-the-year-in-aisc-and-nsba-2026-prize-bridge-awards/
[Category: Steel]
SAE Government Technologies and U.S. Government Launch New Digital Platform, Called METConn, to Strengthen Collaboration, Skills, and the North American Workforce
WARRENDALE, Pennsylvania, Sept. 22 -- SAE International issued the following news release:
* * *
SAE Government Technologies and U.S. Government Launch New Digital Platform, called METConn, to Strengthen Collaboration, Skills, and the North American Workforce
TROY, Mich. (Sept. 21, 2026) - Mobility & Emerging Technologies ConnectSM (METConn), a new community platform designed to strengthen collaboration and knowledge-sharing across the Mobility & Emerging Technologies ecosystem, is live! Developed as an initiative with SAE Government TechnologiesTM and funding through the Department of War's
... Show Full Article
WARRENDALE, Pennsylvania, Sept. 22 -- SAE International issued the following news release:
* * *
SAE Government Technologies and U.S. Government Launch New Digital Platform, called METConn, to Strengthen Collaboration, Skills, and the North American Workforce
TROY, Mich. (Sept. 21, 2026) - Mobility & Emerging Technologies ConnectSM (METConn), a new community platform designed to strengthen collaboration and knowledge-sharing across the Mobility & Emerging Technologies ecosystem, is live! Developed as an initiative with SAE Government TechnologiesTM and funding through the Department of War'sIndustrial Base Analysis and Sustainment (IBAS) program, METConn creates a centralized digital space for connection, engagement, and shared learning.
"METConn represents a significant step forward in how the mobility and emerging technologies community connects, collaborates, and learns," said Steve Sternicki, Director of SAE Government Technologies. "By bringing Hubs and Communities of Practice together into one single, purpose-built platform, METConn creates new opportunities to strengthen relationships, share expertise, and accelerate workforce development across government, industry, and academia. We're excited to get members to sign up, engage, and build a community forged in their shared knowledge and collaboration."
The METConn website is live and open for users to create an account, build their profile, and join a Hub(s) and/or Community of Practice (CoP). Visit www.metconn.org.
The primary goal of METConn is to build a robust, highly collaborative community that supports workforce development, professional networking, marketing, outreach, upskilling, training, education, and more. By bringing people together across organizations, disciplines, and regions, METConn enables meaningful collaboration and strengthens connections throughout the community.
Sign up at www.metconn.org and
* Create an account
* Build and update your personalized profile
* Join a Hub(s)
* Connect with a Community of Practice (CoP)
Follow the METConn LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/metconn-mobility-emerging-technologies/
* * *
About SAE Government TechnologiesTM
An affiliate of SAE Industry Technologies Consortia (SAE ITC(R)), SAE GT enables visionary collaboration to define solutions, advance technology and effectively address new challenges and innovation trends with Government customers (www.sae-gt.org).
* * *
About SAE Industry Technologies Consortia(R)
SAE Industry Technologies Consortia (SAE ITC), an affiliate of SAE International(R), brings together public, private, academic, and government organizations in neutral, pre-competitive forums. SAE ITC specializes in creating and managing consortia using proven processes, tools, and resources. By fostering collaboration, SAE ITC helps members set and implement strategic business improvements that drive innovation across highly engineered industries worldwide. Learn more at www.sae-itc.com.
* * *
About SAE International(R)
SAE International is a global association committed to advancing mobility knowledge and solutions for the benefit of humanity. By engaging nearly 200,000 engineers, technical experts and volunteers, we connect and educate mobility professionals to enable safe, clean, and accessible mobility solutions. We act on two priorities: encouraging a lifetime of learning for mobility engineering professionals and setting the standards for industry engineering. We strive for a better world through the work of our philanthropic SAE Foundation, including award-winning programs like A World In Motion(R) and the Collegiate Design Series(TM). More at http://www.sae.org.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.sae.org/articles/press-releases/2026/09/sae-gt-metconn-digital
[Category: Engineering]
National Wild Turkey Federation: Evolution of Wild Turkey Research in the Southeast
EDGEFIELD, South Carolina, Sept. 22 -- The National Wild Turkey Federation issued the following news release:
* * *
Evolution of Wild Turkey Research in the Southeast
September 21, 2026
The Southeast is often regarded as the cradle of turkey hunting. It is the region that gave birth to the culture we have today. But in the early-to-mid 20th century, during a time when populations were imperiled and just seeing a bird was something to behold, researchers and biologists were creating a conservation story just as compelling through wild turkey research, and that story continues today.
Unregulated
... Show Full Article
EDGEFIELD, South Carolina, Sept. 22 -- The National Wild Turkey Federation issued the following news release:
* * *
Evolution of Wild Turkey Research in the Southeast
September 21, 2026
The Southeast is often regarded as the cradle of turkey hunting. It is the region that gave birth to the culture we have today. But in the early-to-mid 20th century, during a time when populations were imperiled and just seeing a bird was something to behold, researchers and biologists were creating a conservation story just as compelling through wild turkey research, and that story continues today.
Unregulatedharvest and land clearing had reduced Southeastern turkeys to scattered remnant populations by the early 20th century, making conservation, basic natural history and restoration urgent. Trap-and-transfer efforts across the country later proved immensely successful, while radio telemetry, habitat studies and prescribed fire research were beginning to help biologists better understand wild turkeys on the landscape.
Studying the bird in the Southeast yielded canonical projects in wild turkey ecology: Lovett Williams advanced the understanding of reproductive biology. Daniel Speake's Alabama telemetry work advanced nesting, predation, survival and prescribed fire understanding. George Hurst led the Mississippi Cooperative Wild Turkey Research Project.
That research tradition continues today, but the questions have changed.
For instance, what limits reproduction? How does habitat influence nesting and brood survival? How does hunting affect behavior and survival? How can managers accurately estimate abundance? What management actions actually improve population trajectories?
While the restoration of the wild turkey is a success, the questions today become more nuanced.
In 2022, the NWTF developed a heightened wild turkey research strategy and since then has helped fund 41 wild turkey research efforts. And just as many of the foundational studies originated in the Southeast, many of today's wild turkey research projects are also being conducted across the region.
For instance, researchers at Tennessee Tech University are using GPS transmitters, nest monitoring and brood monitoring to examine how hens select nesting and brood-rearing habitat and which habitat characteristics are associated with reproductive success.
In Florida, Marcus Lashley, Ph.D., at the University of Florida, and his team are examining how vegetation characteristics and environmental conditions affect poult growth and survival.
And while research questions have evolved over the decades, so too has the technology used to study turkeys. Researchers at the University of Georgia, in partnership with Louisiana State University, have used automated recording units across the Southeast to study gobbling activity. A new NWTF-funded project led is taking that work a step further by placing miniature audio recorders directly on gobblers alongside GPS transmitters. The goal is to understand how hunting affects individual gobbling behavior and ultimately improve estimates of male turkey abundance. Patrick Wightman, Ph.D., NWTF national director of wild turkey research, is a primary collaborator on the project.
The goal is no longer simply to understand wild turkey restoration, but to determine why populations respond differently to habitat, hunting, disease, management and other factors. While individual projects are vital to this effort, building long-term capacity is just as important.
The NWTF is also investing in the people and institutions that will answer those questions for generations to come. The Southeast is the epicenter of the NWTF's wild turkey endowed professorship program. In 2024, the NWTF announced the NWTF Endowed Chair at the University of Georgia, which recently surpassed $1 million, and at its Convention and Sport Show earlier this year, the NWTF announced the new NWTF Distinguished Chair at Mississippi State University. These positions are part of the NWTF's 10-year strategy to establish a national network of university-based professorships and programs dedicated to coordinated, long-term wild turkey research.
From the foundational work of early researchers to today's GPS transmitters, genetic analysis, acoustic monitoring and landscape-scale habitat research, the questions have become more sophisticated, but the mission remains much the same: understand the wild turkey well enough to make better decisions that ensure future generations hear the gobble.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.nwtf.org/content-hub/the-evolution-of-wild-turkey-research-in-the-southeast
[Category: Animals]
ERIC, Leading Stakeholders Back Default E-Delivery for Health Plans, Urge DOL to Expand Final Rule
WASHINGTON, Sept. 22 (TNSida) -- The ERISA Industry Committee issued the following news release:
* * *
ERIC, Leading Stakeholders Back Default E-Delivery for Health Plans, Urge DOL to Expand Final Rule
September 21, 2026
Washington, D.C. - Leading stakeholders representing employers, businesses, and environmental organizations urged the Department of Labor (DOL) to finalize its proposal to permit default electronic delivery (e-delivery) for group health plan communications under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). The groups also encouraged DOL to extend the default
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Sept. 22 (TNSida) -- The ERISA Industry Committee issued the following news release:
* * *
ERIC, Leading Stakeholders Back Default E-Delivery for Health Plans, Urge DOL to Expand Final Rule
September 21, 2026
Washington, D.C. - Leading stakeholders representing employers, businesses, and environmental organizations urged the Department of Labor (DOL) to finalize its proposal to permit default electronic delivery (e-delivery) for group health plan communications under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). The groups also encouraged DOL to extend the defaulte-delivery approach to all ERISA-covered welfare plans in its final rule.
"The administration's proposal takes the important step of modernizing outdated regulations to improve the employee experience in interacting with and managing their benefits, while delivering meaningful cost savings to employers," said James Gelfand, President and CEO of The ERISA Industry Committee. "We appreciate our partnership with aligned stakeholders in support of this proposed change, and we urge DOL to not only finalize it, but also to extend it to all ERISA-covered welfare plans."
The following organizations signed a comment letter submitted to DOL supporting the policy:
* The ERISA Industry Committee
* AHIP
* American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI)
* Associated General Contractors of America
* Association for Behavioral Health and Wellness (ABHW)
* Blue Cross Blue Shield Association
* Business Group on Health
* CHRO Association
* Delta Dental Plans Association
* Environmental Paper Network
* Fidelity Investments
* Healthcare Leadership Council
* Marsh
* MetLife
* NABIP
* National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions
* National Association of Dental Plans (NADP)
* National Association of Professional Employer Organizations
* National Coordinating Committee for Multiemployer Plans (NCCMP)
* National Retail Federation
* Partnership for Employer Sponsored Coverage (P4ESC)
* Purchaser Business Group on Health
* Self Insurance Institute of America
* SAG-AFTRA
* Silicon Valley Employers Forum
* Small Business Majority
* UnitedHealth Group
* U.S. Chamber of Commerce
E-delivery represents a commonsense policy for workers and employers alike, and one that has been permitted for communications regarding retirement benefits for years. The proposed rule is a very welcome next step extending the policy to health benefit communications. ERIC-commissioned polling conducted by Ipsos in 2025 found that 95% of employees enrolled in ERISA-covered health benefit plans are comfortable accessing benefits information electronically, and 91% already do so. Four in five say e-delivery provides real-time access to information and helps them make more informed health care decisions, while nearly eight in 10 prefer it as the default.
As part of DOL's assessment of the e-delivery proposal, the agency estimates that an e-delivery safe harbor for health plans would result in up to $395 million in net annual savings, largely accruing to American workers and businesses. The Department also estimates that the proposed rule could eliminate the unnecessary printing and mailing of up to 11 billion sheets of paper each year.
"This reform, once finalized, will save millions in administrative expenses that can be reinvested into employer health plan programs and benefits. It will also improve access to and utility of the disclosures, potentially enabling employees and their families to take action directly from the electronic communication itself," said Garrett Hohimer, Vice President of Policy and Advocacy, Business Group on Health.
Extending the final rule to all ERISA-covered welfare plans would meaningfully expand these savings while creating a more consistent experience for employees across their benefits. A 2025 analysis by Avalere Health of all ERISA health and welfare plan disclosures estimated that default e-delivery could save up to $19.5 billion over 10 years and significantly reduce the 20.4 billion sheets of paper currently printed and mailed each year across these plans.
"By making electronic delivery the default, the Department has a historic opportunity to reduce unnecessary paper use without compromising consumer choice," said Elizabeth Underwood, Ph.D., Director, Environmental Paper Network. "Extending this flexibility to all ERISA-covered welfare plans would multiply those benefits, conserving natural resources while reducing waste and emissions."
* * *
About The ERISA Industry Committee
ERIC is a national advocacy organization that exclusively represents large employers that provide health, retirement, paid leave, and other benefits to their nationwide workforces. With member companies that are leaders in every sector of the economy, ERIC advocates on the federal, state, and local levels for policies that promote flexibility and uniformity in the administration of their employee benefit plans.
* * *
INFODOC: https://us.list-manage.com/xP7Irr1jfQl?e=4b9822ddff&c2id=b42d6fb3a747b5f9a74f8375e11f372e
* * *
Original text here: https://www.eric.org/press_release/eric-leading-stakeholders-back-default-e-delivery-for-health-plans-urge-dol-to-expand-final-rule/
[Category: Human Resources/Personnel]
Consumer Technology Association: Waymo Co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana to Keynote at CES 2027
ARLINGTON, Virginia, Sept. 22 -- The Consumer Technology Association issued the following news release:
* * *
Waymo Co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana to Keynote at CES 2027
Waymo shares future vision for the autonomous ride-hailing service
September 21, 2026
The Consumer Technology Association (CTA)(R), owner and producer of CES(R), announces Waymo co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana will deliver a keynote at CES 2027. Waymo is a powerful example of technology moving from novelty to essential daily utility. With its autonomous vehicles serving over half a million trips every week, Waymo is already improving road
... Show Full Article
ARLINGTON, Virginia, Sept. 22 -- The Consumer Technology Association issued the following news release:
* * *
Waymo Co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana to Keynote at CES 2027
Waymo shares future vision for the autonomous ride-hailing service
September 21, 2026
The Consumer Technology Association (CTA)(R), owner and producer of CES(R), announces Waymo co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana will deliver a keynote at CES 2027. Waymo is a powerful example of technology moving from novelty to essential daily utility. With its autonomous vehicles serving over half a million trips every week, Waymo is already improving roadsafety in the communities where it operates, and addressing real-world challenges for seniors and people with limited mobility.
"Whether it's getting to work, catching a flight or heading to a doctor, autonomous vehicles deliver convenience, accessibility and value," said Kinsey Fabrizio, President and CEO, CTA. "Waymo is integrating frontier AI and robotics to create the future of mobility and I look forward to hearing what's next from Tekedra."
Mawakana is one of the leading voices shaping the future of mobility. Mawakana served on the CTA Board of Industry Leaders from 2019 to 2021. Recognized on the TIME 100 AI list and Forbes' 50 Over 50, she regularly speaks on the intersection of technology, leadership and innovation. Her work and impact were featured in The New York Times, Vanity Fair and other leading global publications.
"Waymo is making fully autonomous transportation a seamless part of everyday life," said Mawakana. "We're scaling a service that gives people a safer, more reliable way to get where they need to go. CES is where the world experiences what's next, and with Waymo, you can do more than imagine the future of mobility, you can hail it."
Driven by its mission to be the world's most trusted driver, Waymo is addressing an urgent global crisis: the 1.19 million lives lost annually to traffic crashes. By building a Driver that never gets tired, distracted or impaired and is available 24/7, Waymo sets a higher safety standard. During the CES keynote, Mawakana will detail how the company maintains that safety bar alongside international expansion, fleet evolution, and more.
"Waymo is making transportation safer, more accessible and more efficient," said Gary Shapiro, Executive Chair, CTA. "Tekedra's leadership reflects innovation that improves lives, sparks policy insights and drives the power of technology."
Mawakana speaks at 1:00 p.m. PST on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2027, in the Palazzo Ballroom at the Venetian. She previously spoke at the CES 2025 Leaders in Technology Dinner.
Visit the Waymo booth 3741 at the Las Vegas Convention Center West Hall from Jan. 6-9. Waymo recently began to welcome its first public riders in Las Vegas - its 15th U.S. market - giving CES attendees an opportunity to experience fully autonomous rides.
Don't miss what's next in autonomous vehicles. The keynote stage will also feature Stellantis. Register for CES 2027 now.
* * *
About CES(R):
CES is the most powerful tech event in the world - the proving ground for breakthrough technologies and global innovators. This is where the world's biggest brands do business and meet new partners, and the sharpest innovators hit the stage. Owned and produced by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA)(R), CES features every aspect of the tech sector. CES 2027 takes place Jan. 6-9 in Las Vegas. Learn more at CES.tech and follow CES on social.
* * *
About Consumer Technology Association (CTA)(R):
As North America's largest technology trade association, CTA is the tech sector. Our members are the world's leading innovators - from startups to global brands - helping support more than 17 million American jobs. CTA owns and produces CES(R) - the most powerful tech event in the world. Find us at CTA.tech. Follow us @CTAtech.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.ces.tech/press-releases/waymo-co-ceo-tekedra-mawakana-to-keynote-at-ces-2027
[Category: Electronic Products]
Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environment Condemn EPA Repeal of Carbon Pollution Standards for Power Plants
MOUNT RAINIER, Maryland, Sept. 22 -- The Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environment issued the following news release:
* * *
Nurses Condemn EPA Repeal of Carbon Pollution Standards for Power Plants
September 21, 2026
Washington, DC - On Sept. 14th 2026, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin announced the repeal of the 2024 Power Plant Regulations. The 2024 Power Plant standards were expected to deliver substantial public health benefits by reducing carbon pollution, fine particulate matter, mercury, and other hazardous pollutants. According to EPA projections,
... Show Full Article
MOUNT RAINIER, Maryland, Sept. 22 -- The Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environment issued the following news release:
* * *
Nurses Condemn EPA Repeal of Carbon Pollution Standards for Power Plants
September 21, 2026
Washington, DC - On Sept. 14th 2026, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin announced the repeal of the 2024 Power Plant Regulations. The 2024 Power Plant standards were expected to deliver substantial public health benefits by reducing carbon pollution, fine particulate matter, mercury, and other hazardous pollutants. According to EPA projections,the carbon standards alone could have prevented up to 1,200 premature deaths, 870 hospital and emergency department visits, 1,900 new asthma cases, 360,000 episodes of asthma symptoms, and tens of thousands of missed school and workdays in 2035. These protections were also in place to safeguard drinking water, and provide particularly important benefits for children, pregnant people, and communities disproportionately burdened by power plant pollution.
In response to the proposal, the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments Executive Director Katie Huffling, DNP, RN, CNM, FAAN issued the following statement:
"The EPA's decision to repeal the 2024 Power Plant standards threatens public health, deepens climate-related health risks, and places an unjust burden on already overexposed communities." Repealing these protections will not make families safer or healthier. It disregards the scientific evidence and will prolong dependence on polluting fossil-fuel infrastructure while shifting the health and financial costs onto children, older adults, pregnant people, people with chronic illnesses, and communities that have endured decades of disproportionate pollution. Nurses call on federal leaders to restore strong, science-based safeguards and accelerate a just transition to clean, reliable energy that protects health.
"The Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments is committed to continue working with nurses, health professionals, community partners, and policymakers to defend science-based environmental protections and advance energy policies that place human health, equity, and a livable climate at their center."
* * *
The Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments is the only national nursing organization focused solely on the intersection of health and the environment. The mission of the Alliance is to support nurses in promoting planetary health and equity globally by educating and leading the nursing profession, advancing research, incorporating planet-safe practice, and influencing policy. http://enviRN.org
* * *
Original text here: https://envirn.org/press-release-nurses-condemn-epa-repeal-of-carbon-pollution-standards-for-power-plants/
[Category: Nursing]
ASM Opposes Further Politicization of Research
WASHINGTON, Sept. 22 -- The American Society for Microbiology issued the following news release:
* * *
ASM Opposes Further Politicization of Research
September 21, 2026
ASM is deeply concerned by reports of a pending Executive Order that would give the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) unprecedented authority to play a role in National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding decisions.
It was reported that the White House Office of Management and Budget was directed to draft an Executive Order creating a new board to approve NIH grants, despite strong disagreement by NIH Director
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Sept. 22 -- The American Society for Microbiology issued the following news release:
* * *
ASM Opposes Further Politicization of Research
September 21, 2026
ASM is deeply concerned by reports of a pending Executive Order that would give the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) unprecedented authority to play a role in National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding decisions.
It was reported that the White House Office of Management and Budget was directed to draft an Executive Order creating a new board to approve NIH grants, despite strong disagreement by NIH DirectorJay Bhattacharya. This proposed board would give political appointees unprecedented oversight of billions of dollars in biomedical research funding. This latest development is part of a disturbing trend to politicize science and override Congressional authority to make federal funding decisions that reflect the needs of their constituents, the American public.
Last month, the scientific community rallied in opposition to the proposed OMB regulation for Federal Financial Assistance, which would also give political appointees greater control of federal grants. Thanks to strong advocacy by the public, Congress included a provision in a stopgap funding bill that temporarily blocks the implementation of this harmful rule.
Congress must also reject this new tactic by the White House to hinder scientific freedom, which would force federal funders and recipients to focus on burdensome policy requirements that may be unrelated to or not in alignment with core purposes of federal grant programs. This takes up time, energy and taxpayer resources.
* * *
Original text here: https://asm.org/press-releases/2026/asm-opposes-further-politicization-of-research
[Category: Biology]
