Public Policy & NGOs
Here's a look at documents from public policy and non-governmental organizations
Featured Stories
Report From House Oversight Democrats Highlights Costly DOGE Efforts to Harm Federal Workers and Public Service
WASHINGTON, Feb. 14 (TNSrpt) -- The International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers issued the following news:
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Report from House Oversight Democrats Highlights Costly DOGE Efforts to Harm Federal Workers and Public Service
A new report from Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, raises serious concerns about the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and its impact on taxpayers, federal workers, and public services. IFPTE thanks Rep. Garcia and the House Oversight Committee staff for their investigative
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Feb. 14 (TNSrpt) -- The International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers issued the following news:
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Report from House Oversight Democrats Highlights Costly DOGE Efforts to Harm Federal Workers and Public Service
A new report from Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, raises serious concerns about the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and its impact on taxpayers, federal workers, and public services. IFPTE thanks Rep. Garcia and the House Oversight Committee staff for their investigativework and looks forward to working with the Committee to advance necessary reforms that strengthens federal agencies' ability to efficiently and effectively deliver services. The report concludes that government oversight must serve the American people, not powerful interests
The report gathers evidence that shows DOGE's actions have undermined their ability to carry out federal agencies' missions, create instability across agencies, and intentionally damaged federal workforce morale and performance. Oversight Democrats found that the Trump Administration directed an estimated $81 million to DOGE operations with virtually no transparency or accountability mechanisms. The report further concludes that DOGE has cost Americans billions in damage, waste, and suffering--reinforcing workers' concerns that poorly designed "efficiency" initiatives can instead create chaos and weaken agencies.
According to the report, DOGE has served "as a smokescreen to make billionaires richer at the expense of hardworking Americans," jeopardizing both federal programs and the workforce that sustains them.
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REPORT: https://oversightdemocrats.house.gov/imo/media/doc/doge_report.pdf
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Original text here: https://www.ifpte.org/news/new-report-from-house-oversight-democratsnbsphighlights-costly-doge-efforts-to-harm-federal-workers-and-public-service
[Category: Engineering]
OAH 2026 Election Results
BLOOMINGTON, Indiana, Feb. 14 -- The Organization of American Historians issued the following news on Feb. 13, 2026:
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OAH 2026 Election Results
The OAH is pleased to announce the results of the 2026 election. The individuals listed below will take their seats on the Executive Board after the 2026 OAH Conference on American History in Philadelphia, April 16-19.
President: Marc Stein, San Francisco State University
President-Elect: Natalia Molina, University of Southern California
Vice President: Thomas J. Sugrue, New York University
The new members elected to the Executive Board are:
... Show Full Article
BLOOMINGTON, Indiana, Feb. 14 -- The Organization of American Historians issued the following news on Feb. 13, 2026:
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OAH 2026 Election Results
The OAH is pleased to announce the results of the 2026 election. The individuals listed below will take their seats on the Executive Board after the 2026 OAH Conference on American History in Philadelphia, April 16-19.
President: Marc Stein, San Francisco State University
President-Elect: Natalia Molina, University of Southern California
Vice President: Thomas J. Sugrue, New York University
The new members elected to the Executive Board are:
* Catherine Ceniza Choy, University of California, Berkeley
* Brenda J. Child, University of Minnesota
* Liz Covart, Ben Franklin's World
The new members elected to the Nominating Board are:
* Megan McGregor, Austin Community College
* Kumiko Noguchi, Meiji Gakuin University
* Ronald Angelo Johnson, Baylor University
The elected candidates will join the 2026-2027 OAH Executive Board:
* Jay S. Goodgold, Treasurer
* Annette Gordon-Reed, Harvard University, Immediate Past President
* David W. Blight, Yale University, Past President
* Deirdre Cooper Owens, University of Connecticut
* Tera Hunter, Princeton University
* LaGarrett King, University at Buffalo
* Crystal Moten, Obama Presidential Center Museum
* Erika Perez, University of Arizona
* Donna Schuele, California State University, Los Angeles
* Beth English (ex officio)
* Stephen D. Andrews (ex officio)
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Original text here: https://www.oah.org/2026/02/13/oah-2026-election-results/
[Category: Economics]
Massachusetts Biotechnology Council: CEO Innovation Policy Update 02.12.26
CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts, Feb. 14 -- The Massachusetts Biotechnology Council posted the following news:
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CEO Innovation Policy Update 02.12.26
MassBio CEO & President Kendalle Burlin O'Connell originally posted this update to LinkedIn:
If there's a theme running through this week, it's that the life sciences ecosystem is ready to move forward but needs Washington to provide the stability to do so. Companies are signaling confidence, investors are showing up, and yet so much still hinges on whether the regulatory and policy environment can keep pace. Here's this week's update.
Return of
... Show Full Article
CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts, Feb. 14 -- The Massachusetts Biotechnology Council posted the following news:
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CEO Innovation Policy Update 02.12.26
MassBio CEO & President Kendalle Burlin O'Connell originally posted this update to LinkedIn:
If there's a theme running through this week, it's that the life sciences ecosystem is ready to move forward but needs Washington to provide the stability to do so. Companies are signaling confidence, investors are showing up, and yet so much still hinges on whether the regulatory and policy environment can keep pace. Here's this week's update.
Return ofBiotech IPOs: Early-stage biotech may be getting a long-awaited "public markets thaw." After several quiet years for IPOs, four drugmakers (Agomab Therapeutics, Eikon Therapeutics, Spyglass Pharma, and Veradermics) went public in the same week, raising close to ~$1 billion combined. The surge might be an important signal that investors may be reopening the IPO window after a period when many biotechs avoided going public altogether. We'll be monitoring how these offerings trade over time, and whether it could translate into more confidence for additional biotechs to go public. If so, it could result in clearer exit pathways for many companies in Massachusetts and across the country.
Continued Concerns over FDA Stability: Public market sentiment may be ticking up, but biotech leaders are still flashing a big red warning light on regulatory stability. In Endpoints' Q1 2026 Biopharma Sentiment Index, comments were dominated by concern about policy whiplash, FDA operational turbulence, and broader anti-science signals. Notably, 69% said the regulatory environment has deteriorated versus a year ago (only 7% said it improved), with many pointing to reviewer attrition, shifting expectations, and an "impossible to plan around" environment that keeps capital cautious even as deals begin to thaw. The takeaway is clear: predictable, science-based regulation and durable public research support are needed for sustainable investment and a functioning pipeline of new cures.
E&C Health Subcommittee Hearing: At Wednesday's House Energy & Commerce Health Subcommittee hearing on the prescription drug supply chain, a consistent through-line was that lowering costs requires transparency and predictability across the system. From an innovation perspective, several exchanges underscored how FDA stability is a real concern: members raised concerns about a brain drain and leadership churn at FDA and the risk that shifting standards and reduced capacity could slow reviews and chill investment, and an emphasis on the need for a "gold standard" agency that's reliable and well-staffed. On pricing, Democrats pressed witnesses on the lack of visibility into the Trump administration's "most-favored-nation" agreements and TrumpRx details, arguing Congress can't conduct oversight without the terms.
TrumpRx Launched: TrumpRx launched last week (Feb. 5, 2026) as a new direct-to-consumer hub that routes cash-paying and uninsured patients to "most-favored-nation" style discount prices offered under agreements the Administration struck with large manufacturers including AstraZeneca, Eli Lilly, EMD Serono, Novo Nordisk, and Pfizer. The early scrutiny centers on how much this helps insured patients and how the initiative functions as a parallel discount channel rather than a system-wide reform. While about 40 brand-name medications are available on the site now, President Trump said more would be added soon.
Questions over ARPA-H Investor Catalyst Hub: The future of ARPA-H's Investor Catalyst Hub in Cambridge is uncertain following a stop-work order and notice of intent to terminate the hub's agreement with VentureWell. ARPA-H has pushed back against reports of a full closure, stating it is evaluating vendors rather than closing the site. The hub has played a significant role in Massachusetts's innovation ecosystem, directing nearly $300 million in research funds to state organizations. In response, the Massachusetts congressional delegation is seeking clarification and warning that disruptions could delay projects designed to accelerate the development of breakthrough therapies and cures. We will be looking for further guidance from ARPA-H on the hub's status and tracking the implications for federally supported research in the area. To read MassBio's statement, click here (https://www.massbio.org/news/recent-news/boston-globe-mass-lawmakers-seek-answers-on-apparent-effort-to-wind-down-arpa-h-investor-catalyst-hub-in-cambridge/#:~:text=Placing%20the%20ARPA%2DH%20Investor,through%20ARPA%2DH's%20Open%20BAA).
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Original text here: https://www.massbio.org/news/recent-news/ceo-innovation-policy-update-02-12-26/
[Category: Biology]
Institute for Clinical and Economic Review Publishes Final Evidence Report on Medication for Smoking Cessation
BOSTON, Massachusetts, Feb. 14 (TNSrpt) -- The Institute for Clinical and Economic Review issued the following news release on Feb. 12, 2026:
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Institute for Clinical and Economic Review Publishes Final Evidence Report on Medication for Smoking Cessation
- Independent appraisal committee votes reflect a net health benefit for cytisinicline alone, but uncertainty when compared to varenicline; Manufacturer setting a price for cytisinicline to align with value would help ensure public health goals for smoking cessation are met -
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The Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) today
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BOSTON, Massachusetts, Feb. 14 (TNSrpt) -- The Institute for Clinical and Economic Review issued the following news release on Feb. 12, 2026:
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Institute for Clinical and Economic Review Publishes Final Evidence Report on Medication for Smoking Cessation
- Independent appraisal committee votes reflect a net health benefit for cytisinicline alone, but uncertainty when compared to varenicline; Manufacturer setting a price for cytisinicline to align with value would help ensure public health goals for smoking cessation are met -
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The Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) todayreleased a Final Evidence Report assessing the comparative clinical effectiveness and value of cytisinicline (Achieve Life Sciences, Inc.) for smoking cessation. Our primary comparison was with the smoking cessation drug, varenicline.
"Smoking cigarettes is the number one cause of preventable deaths in the US, and so any new therapy to assist with smoking cessation is extremely important," said ICER's Chief Medical Officer, David Rind, MD, MSc. "The drug we reviewed for this assessment, cytisinicline, has been used for decades in Europe and has similar efficacy to varenicline (Chantix) but with less nausea. Manufacturer decisions on pricing are likely to have substantial effects on how easily smokers can access this medication."
ICER's Public Meeting: Voting Results on Clinical Effectiveness and Benefits Beyond Health
ICER's report was the subject of the January 2026 meeting of the Midwest Comparative Effectiveness Public Advisory Council (Midwest CEPAC), one of ICER's three independent evidence appraisal committees.
ICER assessed, and the independent appraisal committee voted on the evidence for the net health benefit of cytisinicline. Some of the voting results on clinical effectiveness include the following:
* The panelists unanimously (14-0) found that for people who smoke cigarettes the current evidence is adequate to demonstrate a net health benefit of cytisinicline is greater than that of behavioral support alone.
* The majority of panelists (13-1) found that for people who smoke cigarettes, the current evidence is not adequate to demonstrate that the net health benefit of cytisinicline with behavioral support is greater than that of varenicline with behavioral support.
Panel members also weighed potential benefits and disadvantages beyond the direct health effects and weighed special ethical priorities. Voting highlighted the following as particularly important for payers and other policymakers to note:
* There is substantial unmet need despite currently available treatments.
* This condition is of substantial relevance for people from a racial/ethnic group that has not been equitably served by the healthcare system.
ICER's Public Meeting: Voting Results on Long-Term Value for Money
Cytisinicline is currently not FDA-approved, with an expected action date from the FDA in June 2026, and the manufacturer has not yet announced a US price for the therapy if approved.
Consistent with ICER's process, because there is no firm estimate yet of a potential launch price for the treatment, the panel did not take a vote on the treatment's long-term value for money.
ICER has calculated a health benefit price benchmark (HBPB) to be between $1,900 and $2,700 per year.
Key Policy Recommendations
ICER's independent assessment of value informs the critical decisions that stakeholders across the US health system need to make around pricing and coverage. Following the voting session, a policy roundtable of experts -- including clinical experts, patients and patient advocates, and representatives from US payers and purchasers -- convened to discuss the pricing implications and recommendations to ensure fair access. Key recommendations stemming from the roundtable discussion include:
* Manufacturers should set the price of cytisinicline to align with the value of added patient benefits.
* Pharmacists should be allowed to prescribe cytisinicline.
* The FDA should provide a new pathway for generic drug approval when a drug has extensive evidence of safety and efficacy and is approved.
ICER's detailed set of policy recommendations is available in the Final Evidence Report and in the standalone Policy Recommendations document.
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About ICER
The Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) is an independent, non-profit research institute that conducts evidence-based reviews of health care interventions, including prescription drugs, other treatments, and diagnostic tests. In collaboration with patients, clinical experts, and other key stakeholders, ICER analyzes the available evidence on the benefits and risks of these interventions to measure their value and suggest fair prices. ICER also regularly reports on the barriers to care for patients and recommends solutions to ensure fair access to prescription drugs. For more information about ICER, please visit www.icer.org.
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REPORT: https://icer.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/ICER_Smoking-Cessation_Final-Report_For-Publication_021226.pdf
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Original text here: https://icer.org/news-insights/press-releases/institute-for-clinical-and-economic-review-publishes-final-evidence-report-on-medication-for-smoking-cessation/
[Category: Economics]
Food & Water Watch: House Ag Committee Set to Reveal Disastrous Farm Bill Draft
WASHINGTON, Feb. 14 [Category: Science] -- The Food and Water Watch posted the following news release on Feb. 13, 2026:
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House Ag Committee Set to Reveal Disastrous Farm Bill Draft
"Any Farm Bill proposal that includes the Cancer Gag Act and EATS Act must be dead on arrival"
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House Agriculture Chair G.T. Thompson is reportedly set to release a draft Farm Bill as early as today. The draft is expected to include continued attacks on federal food assistance through the Supplementary Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); and contain several controversial industry-backed poison pills, including:
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WASHINGTON, Feb. 14 [Category: Science] -- The Food and Water Watch posted the following news release on Feb. 13, 2026:
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House Ag Committee Set to Reveal Disastrous Farm Bill Draft
"Any Farm Bill proposal that includes the Cancer Gag Act and EATS Act must be dead on arrival"
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House Agriculture Chair G.T. Thompson is reportedly set to release a draft Farm Bill as early as today. The draft is expected to include continued attacks on federal food assistance through the Supplementary Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); and contain several controversial industry-backed poison pills, including:
*The Cancer Gag Act, which would shield pesticide corporations from health-related lawsuits. Food & Water Watch research catalogues Roundup-producer Bayer's quest for immunity. Bayer has spent over $11 billion settling more than 100,000 cancer lawsuits related to Roundup's active ingredient glyphosate, which the World Health Organization deems "probably carcinogenic to humans."
* The EATS Act, re-introduced this session as the Save Our Bacon Act, which would strip state and local governments of their ability to pass agricultural policies within their own borders, overturning hundreds of state laws.
Food & Water Watch Managing Director of Policy and Litigation Mitch Jones issued the following statement:
"Any Farm Bill proposal that includes the Cancer Gag Act and EATS Act must be dead on arrival. These Big Ag poison pills will tank any hope of a fair Farm Bill. Families and farmers are hungry for federal policy that supports small- and mid-sized producers and keeps food affordable. Instead, Chairman Thompson appears poised to check off industry's cruel wish list.
"America needs a fair Farm Bill. It is imperative that this Farm Bill repeal all Trump SNAP cuts and restore full funding to this critical nutrition program; stop the proliferation of factory farms; and support the transition to sustainable, affordable food."
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Original text here: https://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/2026/02/13/house-ag-committee-set-to-reveal-disastrous-farm-bill-draft/
Community and nonprofit groups appeal Chesterfield air permit
BOONE, North Carolina, Feb. 14 [Category: Sociological] -- Appalachian Voices posted the following news release:
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Community and nonprofit groups appeal Chesterfield air permit
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Press release from the Southern Environmental Law Center
For immediate release:
February 13, 2026
Contact:
Tasha Durrett, 571-405-1101, tdurrett@selc.org
RICHMOND, Va. - Today -on behalf of the Chesterfield County branch of the NAACP, CASA Inc., Appalachian Voices and Mothers Out Front -the Southern Environmental Law Center appealed the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality's issuance of an air
... Show Full Article
BOONE, North Carolina, Feb. 14 [Category: Sociological] -- Appalachian Voices posted the following news release:
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Community and nonprofit groups appeal Chesterfield air permit
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Press release from the Southern Environmental Law Center
For immediate release:
February 13, 2026
Contact:
Tasha Durrett, 571-405-1101, tdurrett@selc.org
RICHMOND, Va. - Today -on behalf of the Chesterfield County branch of the NAACP, CASA Inc., Appalachian Voices and Mothers Out Front -the Southern Environmental Law Center appealed the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality's issuance of an airpermit allowing Dominion Energy to build and operate a new methane gas plant in Chesterfield County. The appeal was filed in the Circuit Court for the City of Richmond.
Today's appeal points to violations of the Virginia State Air Pollution Control Law, the Virginia Administrative Process Act, the Virginia Environmental Justice Act and the federal Clean Air Act.
Specifically, SELC raised the following in today's petition:
* DEQ did not adequately analyze whether nearby low-income communities, communities of color and fenceline communities would experience disproportionate health impacts from the gas plant's pollution.
* DEQ also did not meaningfully involve those communities in the decision-making process, including frequently failing to engage with the significant Spanish-speaking population in the area and not translating relevant materials into Spanish.
* DEQ allowed Dominion to avoid a heightened level of review for the gas plant's emissions of four harmful pollutants, including nitrogen oxides and sulfuric acid.
* DEQ ignored Dominion's failure to demonstrate that its gas plant would not lead to levels of air pollution above federal standards.
* DEQ refused to include proper emissions limits in the permit, so Dominion would not have to reduce pollution as much as it reasonably could.
"We take our clients' concerns and the spirit of the laws setting forth how to engage on issues when entering fenceline communities seriously. The state's Environmental Justice Act is meant to be followed and directs agencies and regulators on how to properly assess requests such as this one from Dominion. It's not just a box to be checked, but in this case, even that wasn't attempted," said Rachel James, a staff attorney at SELC.
DEQ approved the permit on December 19 after years of community opposition and organizing in Chesterfield and advocacy against the plant from around the state. In granting the air permit, DEQ treated the new gas plant as a modification of Dominion's existing Chesterfield Power Station, the site of a retired coal plant, an existing gas plant and the site it seeks to build the new power plant on.
Prior to construction, Dominion also needed to obtain a certificate of public convenience and necessity for the plant from the State Corporation Commission. Just yesterday, the SCC reinstated its final order approving the CPCN after briefly suspending the order/authorization in December following a petition for reconsideration from SELC and community groups.
Client Statements
Nicole Martin, President, Chesterfield County NAACP: "My neighbors in Chesterfield have endured too much already. The pandering to corporations while passing monetary costs and health costs on to those who can least afford it needs to stop, not today, but yesterday. Decades ago, even. We are still fighting this gas plant."
Christian Martinez Lemus, Research and Policy Analyst, CASA Inc.: "CASA continues to stand with so many of our neighbors in Chesterfield and those helping fight this plant from all over the state. The stakes are too high for us to give up now. Not only our health, but the health of generations to come hangs in the balance."
Peter Anderson, Director of State Energy Policy at Appalachian Voices: "The decision to bring more pollution into the state -and specifically into a community that is already overburdened -is a bad one. We continue to believe this plant is unnecessary, and we know it is unwanted. The recent actions from the SCC and DEQ do not reflect what an overwhelming number of Chesterfield residents -and Virginia as a whole -want. "
Linnea Brett, Director of Organizing, Mothers Out Front: "Mothers Out Front maintains that this polluting, unnecessary plant does not belong in Chesterfield or anywhere else in the state. We are excited to continue this fight with today's filing."
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Original text here: https://appvoices.org/2026/02/14/chesterfield-appeal/
Bahai International Community Highlights Research On Collaborative Models For Social Development
WASHINGTON, Feb. 14 -- The Baha'i International Community presented research at the sixty fourth session of the United Nations Commission for Social Development examining how relationships among governing institutions, local communities and individuals can be strengthened to advance social development.
During the session, the organization emphasized findings drawn from global grassroots initiatives showing that development outcomes improve when institutions, community groups and citizens coordinate their efforts rather than operate in isolation. The research explores patterns of collaboration
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Feb. 14 -- The Baha'i International Community presented research at the sixty fourth session of the United Nations Commission for Social Development examining how relationships among governing institutions, local communities and individuals can be strengthened to advance social development.
During the session, the organization emphasized findings drawn from global grassroots initiatives showing that development outcomes improve when institutions, community groups and citizens coordinate their efforts rather than operate in isolation. The research explores patterns of collaborationthat align institutional resources with local aspirations and community driven initiatives.
As part of its engagement, the Baha'i International Community convened a side event titled Strengthening Coordination Between Government Communities and Individuals Local Narratives Across Different National Contexts. The discussion featured contributions from Kenya's National Social Protection Secretariat and the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, alongside representatives sharing field based experiences from the Canary Islands.
Case studies presented at the session described community building efforts that evolved into hundreds of social and economic development activities involving thousands of participants across multiple islands. Organizers indicated that these initiatives illustrate how partnership based relationships can expand local capacity and foster shared responsibility for social progress.
-- Shanskar Shaw, Targeted News Service
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Original text posted on Feb. 11, 2026, here: https://www.bic.org/news/bic-explores-new-patterns-relationships-among-social-actors-advance-social-development
[Category: Sociological]
