The Carnegie Corporation of New York grant funds research in partnership with The British American Security Information Council (BASIC) on the destabilizing impacts of emerging and disruptive technologies on mobile nuclear launch platforms.

Washington, D.C. – November 6, 2025 – The Federation of American Scientists (FAS) has received a $500,000 grant to analyze the capabilities of emerging and disruptive technologies (EDTs) to track and trail mobile nuclear launch platforms—particularly land-based mobile missile forces and sea-based systems. The grant comes from the Carnegie Corporation of New York (CCNY) to investigate, alongside The British American Security Information Council (BASIC), the associated impact on nuclear stability. 

The grant funds a two-year project to support FAS’ and BASIC’s joint effort to research current EDT capabilities and potential future applications in order to supply experts and policymakers with data to recommend short- and medium-term risk reduction measures. Additionally, the grant enables FAS and BASIC to bring together an interdisciplinary community of scientific, technical, and open-source intelligence (OSINT) experts. 

“We are excited to partner with BASIC on this project and grateful to CCNY for the opportunity,” said Mackenzie Knight-Boyle, Senior Research Associate on the Nuclear Information Project at FAS and co-lead of the project. “As OSINT analysts, it’s important that we are aware of what new tools and capabilities are out there for tracking nuclear forces. It is essential, however, that we are responsible practitioners with a thorough understanding of the implications for nuclear stability if such technologies threaten the traditional survivability of mobile systems.” 

The project scope will include desk-based research, workshops with leading experts and practitioners, briefings with stakeholders, and publications. The conclusion of the grant will result in educational events about the findings across nuclear and non-nuclear weapon states, with the objective to reduce nuclear risk.

“BASIC is delighted to be partnering with FAS to investigate the impacts of the cutting-edge emerging and disruptive technologies on the stealth of land- and sea-based mobile nuclear delivery platforms,” writes BASIC Executive Director Sebastian Brixey-Williams. “If such platforms can be detected – whether allied or adversary owned – nuclear stability may be significantly compromised. It is therefore essential that nuclear planners are equipped with robust and clear-eyed assessments of potential risks and recommendations on mitigation measures.”

The impact of “near-term” EDTs (defined as those that are currently in development or expected to develop over the next 5-10 years) is a topic BASIC has reported extensively.

“This work lies at the critical intersection between technology and policy. By strengthening a community of experts who understand these technologies and their associated risks, we can more effectively inform and engage the public and policymakers on nuclear dangers and strategic stability challenges,” said Eliana Johns, Senior Research Associate with the Nuclear Information Project at FAS and co-lead of the project.  

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ABOUT FAS

The Federation of American Scientists (FAS) works to advance progress on a broad suite of contemporary issues where science, technology, and innovation policy can deliver transformative impact, and seeks to ensure that scientific and technical expertise have a seat at the policymaking table. Established eighty years ago by scientists in response to the atomic bomb, FAS continues to bring scientific rigor and analysis to address national challenges. More information about FAS work at fas.org.

→ New Report: STAT Network highlights increasing threats, shows how states are rewriting playbooks in real time to protect American health, safety and economic vitality 

→ First-ever survey reveals urgent need for coordinated action: only 5 percent of state health officials feel “very prepared”, 61 percent relied on federal funds now in flux. 

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — November 3, 2025 — A new report from the STAT Network reveals that extreme weather events are jeopardizing the health, safety and economic prospects of Americans. Published today in partnership with the Federation of American Scientists and supported by The Rockefeller Foundation and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the report reveals first-of-its-kind data from state public health officials in 45 states and territories on the urgent need for state-led coordination. The report also spotlights innovations that are being adopted and scaled through the STAT Network despite drastic cuts in federal funding to public health.

“States are navigating a new normal of extreme weather crises—heat waves following floods, wildfires overlapping with hurricanes—while the federal support and data tools they’ve relied on are eroding. No state should be left to shoulder this alone. Through our Extreme Weather & Health group and this report, we elevate what’s working on the ground as states are leading the response and offer a practical roadmap for acting at the speed and complexity of today’s hazards” said Stefanie Friedhoff, Professor of the Practice and STAT Network Lead, Brown University School of Public Health.

The STAT Network, which supports state public health officials across a range of pressing public health issues, started a dedicated extreme weather and health group in August 2024, serving as an essential connection point for collective problem solving in a shifting landscape. Of 136 state respondents who participated in the STAT Extreme Weather & Health survey shared with states in summer 2025: 

→ only 5% feel “very prepared” to handle the escalating public health impacts of extreme weather
→ 61% prepared for extreme weather using federal funds that are now in flux
→ 39% cited federal partnerships as historically one of the most effective mechanisms to address impacts
→ 94% are concerned that socioeconomic disparities moderately (27%) or significantly (67%) contribute to unequal outcomes during extreme weather events in their state.

The new report, Protecting the Health of Americans in the Face of Extreme Weather: A Roadmap for Coordinated Action was developed to support these leaders at this moment of evolving challenges, needs and opportunities. The report details how states are pivoting their preparedness playbooks, showcases replicable new models, and identifies pressing gaps that funders, policymakers and thought leaders must still fill. 

Download the full report

“Extreme weather events are no longer just natural disasters—they’re public health emergencies. From heat waves that overwhelm hospitals to floods that cut off access to care, Americans are feeling the strain in their communities. That’s why The Rockefeller Foundation launched the STAT Network at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic—to strengthen public health infrastructure through interstate collaboration and cross-sector partnerships. That same level of coordination is just as critical today as we face growing threats to health, safety, and economic opportunity” said Derek Kilmer, Senior Vice President for U.S. Program and Policy, The Rockefeller Foundation.

“One in three Americans report being personally affected by extreme weather in just the past two years – illustrating that extreme weather has become extremely common. The good news is that the negative health impacts of extreme weather are largely preventable. FAS is excited to partner with the STAT Network to help states step up as the federal government steps back, putting in place the innovative, evidence-based strategies we need to protect people and communities across the country,” said Dr. Hannah Safford Associate Director of Climate and Environment, Federation of American Scientists.

A changed landscape

Protecting the Health of Americans describes how extreme weather events have become more frequent, severe and widespread. From wildfires that quickly spiraled out of control in Maui and Los Angeles, to illness from extreme heat overloading emergency rooms across the Southwest, to sudden flash flooding from Hurricane Helene catching entire regions off-guard across Appalachia, it is clear that existing playbooks are no longer sufficient to respond to rapidly evolving threats. At the same time, cuts in 2025 at the Centers for Disease Control, the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Weather Service and other federal agencies have removed the backbone of funding, data and technical assistance many states relied on. 

States lead the way

Summarizing ongoing preparedness and response efforts across states, Protecting the Health of Americans offers three pillars for action and shares concrete, replicable examples that emerge from the STAT Extreme Weather & Health Network:

Collaboration. States like Minnesota and California are embedding public health voices in climate and infrastructure decisions, while North Carolina and Texas have demonstrated that shared frameworks like FEMA’s Community Lifelines can unite health, energy and emergency systems under one coordinated response. Partnerships break down silos and accelerate action.

Data. In North Carolina, advanced modeling now informs heat alerts based on real-time health and climate data; Illinois is developing predictive tools that warn hospitals before storms hit; and Alaska’s Local Environment Observer Network turns community observations into early-warning intelligence. States are making data more interoperable, localized and actionable. 

Communication. Massachusetts amplified risk messaging on Triple E and West Nile via medical providers, community groups and local media. California is co-developing an interactive curriculum with community health workers on responding to poor air quality events. Kansas convenes a cross-sector Extreme Weather Events Work Group with community-based organizations to co-create practical toolkits. States are modernizing their communications capacity, building trusted messenger networks and moving past an over-focus on social media outreach.

The new report also includes case examples from states such as Oregon, Arizona and Texas that illustrate how housing insecurity, energy burden, medical dependence on electricity, and lack of access to timely, trusted information add additional burden for low-income, elderly and rural populations—and how systems-level interventions focused on energy resilience, targeted mitigation and partnerships with community-based organizations can save lives.

Insights from this report can serve as a pathway to building community resilience and protecting health from the impacts of extreme weather. Looking ahead, the STAT Network, the Federation of American Scientists and other collaborators look forward to working with state leaders and their partners to translate this roadmap into sustained progress.

The announcement comes ahead of the STAT Network’s participation in The Rockefeller Foundation and Heartland Forward’s “Big Bets for America” convening in Oklahoma City, where leaders across the public, private, and non-profit sectors will discuss opportunities to help communities flourish.

To learn more, download the full report.  

Media Contact:
STAT Network:
Caroline Hoffman
Assistant Director of Content and Strategy
STAT Network at Brown University
caroline_hoffman2@brown.edu 

FAS:
Katie McCaskey
Communications Manager, Media and PR
Federation of American Scientists
(202) 933-8857
kmccaskey@fas.org

About the STAT Network
At a time of unprecedented disruption in the U.S. public health system, the STAT Network serves as a strategic, nonpartisan, practice-focused partner to the state public health workforce in all 50 states as well as three territories. Originally created as the State and Territory Alliance for Testing by the Rockefeller Foundation in 2020 to meet the urgent need for more state-to-state collaboration during the COVID-19 pandemic, the network convenes state health leaders across the country on a weekly basis to problem-solve ongoing threats, share best practices, and support one another. Learn more about STAT at https://sites.brown.edu/stat/ 

About the STAT Extreme Weather & Health sub-network and this report
The STAT Extreme Weather and Health Group was created in August 2024 and meets monthly. Over 480 state officials from public health, preparedness and related departments in 45 states and some countries have attended these sessions over the past year. Between May and July 2025, the Network also fielded a comprehensive Extreme Weather and Health survey, which yielded 136 responses (78% from state officials, 10% from local health officials, and 12% from federal, academic and other partners to state teams). Responses came from 34 states, with near equal participation across the political spectrum. The STAT team also met individually with state- and county-level teams in more than 25 states for in-depth conversations about ongoing response needs and innovations. Protecting the Health of Americans summarizes findings across overall network presentations and discussions, the dedicated state-level survey, and state-level interviews.    

About FAS
The Federation of American Scientists (FAS) works to advance progress on a broad suite of contemporary issues where science, technology, and innovation policy can deliver transformative impact, and seeks to ensure that scientific and technical expertise have a seat at the policymaking table. Established in 1945 by scientists in response to the atomic bomb, FAS continues to bring scientific rigor and analysis to address urgent challenges. More information about our work at the intersection of climate change and health can be found at fas.org/initiative/climate-health.

FOFA, the Fix Our Forests Act, Contains Provisions Applauded by the Federation of American Scientists

Washington, D.C. – October 22, 2025 – Yesterday, the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry favorably reported the Fix Our Forests Act (S. 1462) out of Committee. This important milestone means that the bill can now be considered for final passage by the full chamber. FAS applauds the strong bipartisan effort behind this bill under the leadership of Senators Curtis (R-UT), Hickenlooper (D-CO), Sheehy (R-MT), Padilla (D-CA), and many important champions in Congress. 

The Federation of American Scientists (FAS) is a non-partisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to the use of science in the public interest. Our wildfire program aims to build a more fire-resilient nation through policy development and analysis, capacity building, and issue education.

“FAS is very pleased to see the Fix Our Forests Act, S. 1426, advance out of Committee. We urge the Senate to act quickly to pass this legislation and to ensure that federal agencies have the capacity and resourcing they need to carry out its provisions,” says Hannah Safford, Associate Director of Climate and Environment at FAS. 

 FAS has been a strong champion of the Fix Our Forests Act and endorsed S. 1462 in April 2025. “Science tells us that the wildfire crisis is becoming more and more urgent. FAS has been working to ensure that this bill includes essential, evidence-based reforms to protect people, property, and ecosystems. FAS particularly supports Sec. 102, which would create the Wildfire Intelligence Center- a decision support hub that would further our core priority of improving the use of science, data, and technology for wildfire resilience” said Jessica Blackband, Senior Manager the Federation of American Scientists. 

For more details on why FAS supports the bill, including 10 key provisions, view our policy statement here. In January 2025, the House of Representatives passed the Fix our Forests Act with bipartisan support by a vote of 279-141. The legislation was introduced by House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-AR) and Congressman Scott Peters (D-CA).

FAS is proud to be part of a broad, bipartisan coalition that supports the Fix Our Forests Act and looks forward to continuing to work with partners and decisionmakers to support a comprehensive and effective federal wildfire ecosystem.

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FOFA Support and FAS Wildfire Work

Coalition Letter of Support (September 2025)
FAS Position Statement on the Fix Our Forests Act (April 2025)
FAS Wildfire Work (2023-present)

ABOUT FAS

The Federation of American Scientists (FAS) works to advance progress on a broad suite of contemporary issues where science, technology, and innovation policy can deliver transformative impact, and seeks to ensure that scientific and technical expertise have a seat at the policymaking table. Established eighty years ago by scientists in response to the atomic bomb, FAS continues to bring scientific rigor and analysis to address national challenges. More information about FAS work at fas.org.

The scientist convened 70+ organizations calling for federal action to address the health harms of extreme heat  

Washington, D.C. – September 16, 2025 – Grace Wickerson, the Federation of American Scientists’ Senior Manager, Climate and Health, today accepted a national recognition, the “Grist 50” award, bestowed by the editorial board of Grist, a nonprofit, independent media organization. The annual Grist 50, started in 2016, recognizes fifty climate leaders working on unique and impactful solutions to the most pressing climate problems. Each year’s list is driven by hundreds of reader nominations. This is the first time someone from FAS has been recognized on Grist’s annual list for their work.

Extreme heat is an issue that now affects all 50 states and costs the country more than $160 billion annually. Wickerson led the development of the 2025 Heat Policy Agenda co-signed by more than 70 labor, industry, health, housing, environmental, academic and community associations and organizations. This resulted in over 100 policy proposals to address extreme heat.

“Grace and team have worked tirelessly to advance actionable, evidence-based policy solutions that will make our communities, and our country, more prepared to handle the growing threat of extreme heat. They have dug deep to understand the health effects of extreme heat and connect organizations across the country to call for all levels of government to take action,” says Dr. Hannah Safford, Associate Director of FAS Climate and Environment. “Their work is an outstanding example of policy entrepreneurship.”

FAS Extreme Heat Work

FAS is a leader in the development of evidence-based policy proposals to address extreme heat and wildfire, two hazards which worsen public health outcomes. With Wickerson, FAS has convened experts from around the country to surface strategies and solutions for federal, state, and local policymakers. The team’s latest work is Too Hot (Not) to Handle, a report on state and local strategies to address heat through resilient cooling.

In addition to the 2025 Heat Policy Agenda and the Resilient Cooling Strategy and Policy Toolkit, Wickerson and Autumn Burton, FAS Senior Associate, Climate and Health, continue to research and articulate the scope and depth of the extreme heat problem as it relates to physical landscapes and communities, public health and infrastructure, data and technology, and the workforce. Ongoing work and policy proposals include:

Economic Impacts of Extreme Heat: Energy
Impacts of Extreme Heat on Rural Communities
Impacts of Extreme Heat on Labor
Impacts of Extreme Heat on Federal Healthcare Spending
Impacts of Extreme Heat on Agriculture
Extreme Heat and Wildfire Smoke: Consequences for Communities

‘Grist 50’

This year’s Grist 50 includes entrepreneurs, artists, land stewards, and community advocates, and others working to address climate change. These stories are just a snapshot of the progress that is still unfolding all over the country — and a testament to the strength, diversity, and creativity of the many people pushing forward across the country. A full list of this year’s award recipients can be found here.

“It is an honor to be recognized amongst so many dedicated individuals. I look forward to connecting with fellow awardees in New York during Climate Week  and working collectively to strengthen our respective efforts to address the climate crisis,” says Wickerson. 

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ABOUT GRIST 50

Grist is a nonprofit, independent media organization dedicated to highlighting climate solutions and uncovering environmental injustices. Since 2016, we have published our annual Grist 50, a list of climate leaders to know right now — people working on unique and impactful solutions to the most pressing climate problems of today. Each year’s list is driven by hundreds of reader nominations, and illustrates what a vibrant, diverse climate movement looks like, while amplifying stories of those making a difference. The 2025 list of awardees is here: https://grist.org/fix/grist-50/2025/

ABOUT FAS

The Federation of American Scientists (FAS) works to advance progress on a broad suite of contemporary issues where science, technology, and innovation policy can deliver transformative impact, and seeks to ensure that scientific and technical expertise have a seat at the policymaking table. Established in 1945 by scientists in response to the atomic bomb, FAS continues to bring scientific rigor and analysis to address urgent challenges. Extreme heat work can be found at: https://fas.org/initiative/extreme-heat/

Fourteen community-driven projects selected from a highly competitive national competition will receive funding to pilot innovative solutions across the U.S.

September 10, 2025; Washington, D.C. — Fourteen teams from ten U.S. states have been selected as the Stage 2 awardees in the Civic Innovation Challenge (CIVIC), a national competition that helps communities turn emerging research into ready-to-implement solutions. Chosen from 55 Stage 1 projects through a rigorous review process, these teams will each receive up to $1,000,000 to launch pilots that address local priorities while building scalable, sustainable and reproducible models for maximum impact. Stage 2 will officially begin in October with an in-person event hosted at the Federation of American Scientists’ office in Washington, D.C. 

Now in its third iteration, CIVIC is a unique federal partnership that prioritizes community engagement, transdisciplinary research and real-world pilots. The competition is organized around two tracks shaped by input from cities and communities nationwide:  

• Track A. Building Resilient Communities Through Preparedness

• Track B. Optimizing Resources and Services 

For information on the teams, see the CIVIC website. 

The 2025 Stage 2 awardees reflect the broad geographic reach and wide-ranging focus of America’s communities, each tackling long-standing challenges with innovative approaches.

Through an agreement with NSF, the Federation of American Scientists – following its June 2025 acquisition of MetroLab Network – supports awardees by fostering communities of practice designed to enhance collaboration, strengthen project reproducibility and ensure long-term sustainability.

MetroLab Network has been a CIVIC partner since its inception—contributing to program design (award #1833054), leading programmatic elements during the first two iterations (award #2223449) and continuing this role in partnership with NSF for CIVIC 3.0 (award #2513329).

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Additional Material

To learn more about the Civic Innovation Challenge, visit: https://nsfcivicinnovation.org/.

About NSF
The U.S. National Science Foundation is an independent federal agency that supports science and engineering in all 50 states and U.S. territories. NSF was established in 1950 by Congress to: promote the progress of science, advance the national health, prosperity and welfare and secure the national defense.

About FAS
The Federation of American Scientists (FAS) works to advance progress on a broad suite of contemporary issues where science, technology, and innovation policy can deliver transformative impact, and seeks to ensure that scientific and technical expertise have a seat at the policymaking table. Established in 1945 by scientists in response to the atomic bomb, FAS continues to bring scientific rigor and analysis to address national challenges. More information about FAS work at fas.org.

The Federation of American Scientists supports S. 1462, the Fix Our Forests Act. Our letter of support is reprinted below.

September 9, 2025 

The Honorable John Thune 
Majority Leader 
United States Senate 
Washington, D.C. 20510 

The Honorable Charles Schumer 
Minority Leader 
United States Senate 
Washington, D.C. 20510 

Dear Majority Leader Thune and Minority Leader Schumer,  

We represent a broad range of organizations advocating to increase resilience to catastrophic wildfires, invest in active forest management including thinning, prescribed fire, restoration, and reforestation, improve land use planning and land management, enhance wildlife habitat and water quality, and better protect communities from wildfires. We support S. 1462, the Fix Our Forests Act. 

The rising risk of wildfire is an urgent and far-reaching crisis. Across the country, Americans are impacted by severe wildfires, from the tragic Palisades and Eaton Fires in Los Angeles earlier this year, to the smoke-choked skies of our Eastern and Midwestern cities this summer and last. Compounding severe wildfires, we are losing our forests to extreme weather like Hurricane Helene, drought, and insects and diseases that are ravaging heritage species like the white oak and giant sequoias. Just as Americans are directly impacted by wildfires and the loss of hundreds of millions of trees, so too are the natural resources and ecosystems we rely upon to provide drinking and agriculture water, feed and house us, provide for our recreation and hunting grounds, and sustain our traditions and ways of life. 

Despite widespread recognition of the need to mitigate the threats posed by catastrophic wildfire and ecosystem degradation, our lands and communities are at risk now more than ever before. Congress has an opportunity and responsibility to act. The Fix Our Forests Act is a critical step forward. The bill provides an opportunity to speed up the planning and implementation of wildfire risk reduction projects on federal lands while expanding collaborative tools to bring more partners into this vital work. Additionally, it bolsters the use of prescribed fire to help reduce fire severity and restore ecosystems. The bill recognizes that replanting after wildfire and other extreme events goes hand in hand with active forest management and the legislation supports ecosystem and habitat restoration across our public lands and in the priceless white oak forests of the Eastern U.S. The Fix Our Forests Act also takes a broad view of the solutions needed by establishing a Community Wildfire Risk Reduction Program to address risk in the built environment and creating a Fire Intelligence Center to improve interagency coordination and adoption of new technologies. 

The House has already acted on the companion bill, H.R. 471. It remains for the Senate to continue to advance the Fix Our Forests Act out of the Committee on Agriculture and Nutrition and secure passage of the bill before the full Senate. We commend the work of the Committee and cosponsors to date and we urge you to take swift action. Congress has the opportunity to take bipartisan action now, proactively, before the next fire inevitably costs lives, livelihoods, and ways of life. 

Sincerely, 

Alliance for Wildfire Resilience 

American Conservation Coalition Action 

American Forests 

American Property Casualty Insurance Association

Bipartisan Policy Center Action 

Citizens’ Climate Lobby 

Climate and Wildfire Institute 

Federation of American Scientists 

International Association of Fire Chiefs 

Megafire Action 

National Association of State Foresters 

National Wild Turkey Federation 

Nature is Nonpartisan 

Property and Environment Research Center 

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation 

Rural Voices for Conservation Coalition 

Tall Timbers

The Stewardship Project

Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership

United Aerial Firefighters Association 

Vibrant Planet 

White Oak Initiative

Yesterday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed revoking its 2009 “endangerment finding” that greenhouse gases pose a substantial threat to the public. The Federation of American Scientists (FAS) stands in strong opposition.

The science couldn’t be clearer: unchecked emissions of greenhouse gases are increasing the frequency and toll of disasters like flash flooding in Texas, catastrophic wildfires in Los Angeles, and stifling heat domes that repeatedly blanket huge swathes of the country. Revoking the endangerment finding would shove science aside in favor of special interests – and at the expense of American health and wellbeing.

“The Environmental Protection Agency claims that the endangerment finding led to ‘costly burdens’ on American families and businesses, when in reality it is the cost of failing to regulate climate pollution that will hit Americans the hardest,” said Dr. Hannah Safford, Associate Director of Climate and Environment at the Federation of American Scientists. “Climate change is expected to cost each American child born today half a million dollars over their lifetimes. Is that the legacy we want to leave our kids?”

The EPA’s proposal is the latest move by the Trump Administration to gut federal climate policy. This campaign runs counter to public opinion: 4 in 5 of all Americans, across party lines, want to see the government take stronger climate action. At the same time, potential revocation of the endangerment finding underscores the need for a durable new approach to climate policy that integrates innovative regulatory design, complementary policy packages, and attention to real-world implementation capacity. FAS and its partners are leading on this priority alongside state and local leaders.

“Despite the Trump Administration’s short-sighted and ideologically motivated actions, the clean energy transition has unstoppable momentum, and there is tremendous opportunity for innovation on how we design and deliver climate policies that are equitable, efficient, and effective,” added Dr. Safford. “The Trump Administration may be stepping back, but many others are stepping forward to create a world free from climate danger.”

The Federation of American Scientists supports H.R. 4420, the Cool Corridors Act of 2025, which would reauthorize the Healthy Streets program through 2030 and seeks to increase green and other shade infrastructure in high-heat areas.  

Science has shown that increasing sources of shade, including tree canopy and other shade infrastructure, can cool surrounding areas as much as 10 degrees, protecting people and critical infrastructure. The Cool Corridors Act of 2025 would create a unique and reliable funding source for communities to build out their shade infrastructure.

“Extreme heat is a serious threat to public health and critical infrastructure,” says Grace Wickerson, Senior Manager for Climate and Health at the Federation of American Scientists. “Increasing tree canopies and shade infrastructure is a key recommendation in FAS’ 2025 Heat Policy Agenda and we commend Reps Lawler and Strickland for taking action on this.”

As the Senate prepares to vote on a provision in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which would condition Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program funding on states ceasing enforcement of their AI laws (SEC.0012 Support for Artificial Intelligence Under the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program), the Federation of American Scientists urges Congress to oppose this measure. This approach threatens to compromise public trust and responsible innovation at a moment of rapid technological change.

The Trump Administration has repeatedly emphasized that public trust is essential to fostering American innovation and global leadership in AI. That trust depends on clear, reasonable guardrails, especially as AI systems are increasingly deployed in high-stakes areas like education, health, employment, and public services. Moreover, the advancement of frontier AI systems is staggering. The capabilities, risks, and use cases of general-purpose models are predicted to evolve dramatically over the next decade. In such a landscape, we require governance structures that are adaptive, multi-layered, and capable of responding in real-time.

While a well-crafted federal framework may ultimately be the right path forward, preempting all state regulation in the absence of federal action would leave a dangerous vacuum, further undermining public confidence in these technologies. According to Pew Research, American concerns about AI are growing, and a majority of US adults and AI experts worry that governments will not go far enough to regulate AI.

State governments have long served as laboratories of democracy, testing policies, implementation strategies, and ways to adapt to local needs. Tying essential broadband infrastructure funding to the repeal of sensible, forward-looking laws would cut off states’ ability to meet the demands of AI evolution in the absence of federal guidance. 

We urge lawmakers to protect both innovation and accountability by rejecting this provision. Conditioning BEAD Funding on halting AI regulation sends the wrong message. AI progress does not need to come at the cost of responsible oversight.

The Federation of American Scientists supports H.Res. 446, which would recognize July 3rd through July 10th as “National Extreme Heat Awareness Week”. 

The resolution is timely, as the majority of heat-related illness and death in the United States occurs from May to September. If enacted, H.Res. 446 would raise awareness about the dangers of extreme heat, enabling individuals and communities to take action to better protect themselves this year and for years to come.

“Extreme heat is one of the leading causes of weather-related mortality and a growing economic risk,” said Grace Wickerson, Senior Manager for Climate and Health at the Federation of American Scientists. “We applaud Rep. Lawler and Rep. Stanton’s efforts to raise awareness of the threat of extreme heat with this resolution and the launch of the new Extreme Heat Caucus.”

The Federation of American Scientists supports H.R. 3738 of the 119th Congress, titled the “Heat Management Assistance Grant Act of 2025.”

The Heat Management Assistance Grant Act of 2025 creates the Heat Management Assistance Grant (HMAG) Program, a quick release of Federal Emergency Management Agency grants to state, local, tribal, and territorial governments for managing heat events that could become major disasters. This resourcing can be used for responses to extreme heat events, including supplies, personnel, and public assistance. HMAG is modeled after the Fire Management Assistance Grant program, which similarly deploys quick funding to activities that prevent wildfires from becoming major disaster events. The bill also creates a definition for an extreme heat event, which informs subnational leaders on when they can ask for assistance.

“Heat emergencies, such as the 2021 Pacific Northwest Heat Dome and 2024 power outage following Hurricane Beryl in Texas, demonstrate a critical need for government assistance for heat-affected communities. Yet to date, there has been no federal pathway for rapidly resourcing heat response,” said Grace Wickerson, Senior Manager for Climate and Health at the Federation of American Scientists. “The Heat Management Assistance Grant Act of 2025 is a critical step in the right direction to unlock the resources needed to save lives, and aligns with key recommendations from our 2025 Heat Policy Agenda.”

The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) launches its annual assessment of the state of armaments, disarmament and international security

Washington, D.C. – June 16, 2025 – Nuclear weapons researchers at the Federation of American Scientists (FAS) contributed to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI)’s annual Yearbook, released today. Key findings of SIPRI Yearbook 2025 are that a dangerous new nuclear arms race is emerging at a time when arms control regimes are severely weakened.

“The era of reductions in the number of nuclear weapons in the world, which had lasted since the end of the cold war, is coming to an end,” said Hans M. Kristensen, Associate Senior Fellow with SIPRI’s Weapons of Mass Destruction Programme and Director of the Nuclear Information Project at the Federation of American Scientists (FAS). “Instead, we see a clear trend of growing nuclear arsenals, sharpened nuclear rhetoric and the abandonment of arms control agreements.”

World’s nuclear arsenals being enlarged and upgraded  

Nearly all of the nine nuclear-armed states—the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, China, India, Pakistan, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea) and Israel—continued intensive nuclear modernization programmes in 2024, upgrading existing  weapons and adding newer versions. 

Of the total global inventory of an estimated 12,241 warheads in January 2025, about 9614 were in military stockpiles for potential use (see the table below). An estimated 3912 of those warheads were deployed with missiles and aircraft and the rest were in central storage. Around 2100 of the deployed warheads were kept in a state of high operational alert on ballistic missiles. Nearly all of these warheads belonged to Russia or the USA, but China may now keep some warheads on missiles during peacetime. 

Since the end of the cold war, the gradual dismantlement of retired warheads by Russia and the USA has normally outstripped the deployment of new warheads, resulting in an overall year-on year decrease in the global inventory of nuclear weapons. This trend is likely to be reversed in the coming years, as the pace of dismantlement is slowing, while the deployment of new nuclear weapons is accelerating. 

Russia and the USA together possess around 90 per cent of all nuclear weapons. The sizes of their respective military stockpiles (i.e. useable warheads) seem to have stayed relatively stable in 2024 but both states are implementing extensive modernization programmes that could increase the size and diversity of their arsenals in the future. If no new agreement is reached to cap their stockpiles, the number of warheads they deploy on strategic missiles seems likely to increase after the bilateral 2010 Treaty on Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms (New START) expires in February 2026. 

The USA’s comprehensive nuclear modernization programme is progressing but in 2024 faced planning and funding challenges that could delay and significantly increase the cost of the new strategic arsenal. Moreover, the addition of new non-strategic nuclear weapons to the US arsenal will place further stress on the modernization programme. 

Russia’s nuclear modernization programme is also facing challenges that in 2024 included a test  failure and the further delay of the new Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) and slower  than expected upgrades of other systems. Furthermore, an increase in Russia’s non-strategic nuclear warheads predicted by the USA in 2020 has so far not materialized. 

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ABOUT FAS

The Federation of American Scientists (FAS) works to advance progress on a broad suite of contemporary issues where science, technology, and innovation policy can deliver transformative impact, and seeks to ensure that scientific and technical expertise have a seat at the policymaking table. Established in 1945 by scientists in response to the atomic bomb, FAS continues to bring scientific rigor and analysis to address contemporary challenges. More information about FAS work at fas.org.