BoB Park’s What’s New: July 4, 2025
No, Bob Park — the physicist who wrote the What’s New newsletter for years — did not write this. Instead, I am imagining what Park would have said were he alive today. The opinions are mine and not necessarily those of Bob Park (but they should be).
What’s New, by Bob Park
Friday, July 4, 2025
1. THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION IS HOMELESS
Last week, the Department of Housing and Urban Development announced they are moving into the National Science Foundation headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia. Apparently the NSF was never consulted about this change, and it is unclear where they will relocate to. The good folks at NSF deserve better than this.
2. HERE COMES THE JUDGE!
Judge William Young of the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts ruled that the massive cuts to grants from the National Institutes of Health are illegal. “This represents racial discrimination and discrimination against America’s LGBTQ community. I would be blind not to call it out,” said Young. “I’ve been on the bench for 40 years — I’ve never seen government racial discrimination like this.” Of course, this will not be the end of the story, and the government is sure to appeal the ruling. But at least it’s a step in the right direction.
3. HERE COMES ANOTHER JUDGE!
Another judge ordered the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to halt his reorganization of federal health agencies. Federal judge Melissa DuBose, of the District of Rhode Island, wrote that “the Executive Branch does not have the authority to order, organize, or implement wholesale changes to the structure and function of the agencies created by Congress.” The decision could halt massive layoffs at the National Institutes of Health, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and other agencies. Again, there are sure to be appeals.
4. GAVI GETS THE AXE
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. has decided to halt U.S. funding to the international vaccine alliance Gavi. The reason was not “America First” or “The United States shouldn’t pay for foreign vaccine programs.” No, according to RFK Jr. the reason was that Gavi “ignores the science” regarding vaccine safety. Hello? It’s RFK Jr. who ignores the science. According to Gavi, this decision could cause a million kids to die, all because of nonsensical anti-science conspiracy theories. I wonder if a judge will save them?
5. UNBREAKING
Want to learn more about what’s happening to science funding in the United States? Read the website compiled by Unbreaking: https://unbreaking.org/issues/medical-research-funding/. They estimate that so far the total value of lost research funding from the National Institutes of Health during the Trump administration surpasses five billion dollars. That’s $5,000,000,000. It’s part of what I call the Republican War on Science. It’ll only get worse with the passage of the One Big, Beautiful Bill. Much worse.