Dear Member, 

Continuing the celebration of our Nation’s 249th birthday, it is more important than ever to participate in our national discourse on priorities for the country. The AAAS team and I are fully engaged at the national level and in Washington, but your energy and voice across the country are crucial. 

If you are ready to engage policymakers or the media, read the updated talking points from our Office of Government Relations, along with our new report outlining the major funding changes this Administration proposes, to prepare for those conversations.  

I hope you were able to make our June 16 webinar “R&D Funding at the Brink” on the devastating cuts to science funding proposed in the Administration's fiscal year 2026 budget, as well as resources to take action. On June 25, the AAAS Local Science Engagement Network hosted a follow-up session on research-informed strategies for engaging with policymakers and practical steps scientists can take to build meaningful connections at the federal, state, and local levels.

Many who attended one or both of the two sessions said they now feel more ready to share their story with their elected officials when they return to their home districts in August. Here are the recording, slides and links to resources that we covered on June 16 and on June 25. We hope these resources will help you share your story, too, during this critical moment. 

The value of science must be visible at the local level. For example, local governments are facing big decisions about how to manage the construction of AI datacenters and what their energy and water needs mean for electricity grids, freshwater resources, local economies, and neighborhoods. To aid in decision-making, the AAAS Center for Scientific Evidence in Public Issues hosted an event with the National League of Cities for more than 300 city leaders and others. Watch the recording. 

I leave you with a bit more inspiration: I recently had the privilege of meeting with a small group of student leaders who helped catalyze the development of “The McClintock Letters.” Hundreds of op-eds from scientists at every stage of their careers are being published in local newspapers across the country to bring home the crucial reasons why science funding must be protected. I’m so proud to be working in common cause with these incredible leaders. Learn more and read many of the stories.