FAS Agreement with IAM is a Commitment to Workplace Transparency, Worker Protections, and Stronger Employee Voice

Washington, D.C. – July 21, 2026 – In a move mirroring its founding eighty years ago by scientists who collectively brought their voices to policymaking, the Federation of American Scientists (FAS), one of the oldest nonpartisan, nonprofit science and technology policy organizations in the United States, announces its first collective bargaining agreement with International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) District 4. The agreement comes after FAS voluntarily recognized the union in 2024.

“We have an agreement that reflects what we aspire for FAS to be – a workplace built on trust, transparency, accountability, and shared respect,” says Daniel Correa, FAS CEO. “It brings greater clarity and consistency to how we work together, and lays a strong foundation for a constructive, collaborative partnership necessary to develop problem-solving policy ideas.”

He adds: “I’m proud of the efforts of so many across our organization that sought to listen, find common ground, and build a shared vision of what is possible, and I believe we are a stronger organization as a result.”

Ratifying this agreement with IAM ensures that employees at FAS have an expanded voice in the future of FAS as the importance of science and technology continue to grow, and the workforce rapidly evolves.

“FAS has always been a pioneer,” says board member Gilman Louie. “Through this agreement, we have an opportunity to set a powerful example for other organizations by strengthening both our team and our ability to drive impact.”

Members of the bargaining unit worked with leadership for over a year to reach the landmark agreement. IAM District 4 is part of the Eastern territory of IAM and represents workers in aerospace, automotive, defense, transportation, woodworking, the federal government, and several other industries. IAM is one of the largest and most diverse labor unions in North America with nearly 600,000 active and retired members, including workers from Boeing, Lockheed Martin, United Airlines, and Harley-Davidson.

For media inquiries, contact Katie McCaskey (press@fas.org). 

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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, FAS continues to bring scientific rigor and analysis to address national challenges. More information about FAS’s work at fas.org.

RESOURCES

IAM District 4 Announcement (IAM, July 2, 2026)
The Federation of American Scientists (FAS) Voluntarily Recognizes First Employee Union in Organization’s Nearly 80 Year History (FAS, August 30, 2024)

The Federation of American Scientists (FAS) proudly endorses the bipartisan National Coordination on Adaptation and Resilience for Security (NCARS) Act of 2026. FAS commends the leadership of Congressman Scott Peters (D-CA-50) and Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar (R-FL-27) in the House, and Senators Chris Coons (D-DE) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) in the Senate, who are introducing this important legislation to establish a coordinated, whole-of-government approach to building national resilience against the escalating threats posed by extreme weather and other natural hazards.

The NCARS Act would amend the National Security Act of 1947 to establish a durable, coordinated federal approach to national resilience. The Act directs the President to designate a Chief Resilience Officer within the National Security Council to develop a National Resilience Strategy and accompanying implementation plan. Grounded in the best available science, the Strategy would help federal agencies prioritize investments against the most urgent hazards; reduce duplication and waste; harmonize how state, local, Tribal, and territorial partners access federal resilience funding; and strengthen the resilience of critical infrastructure and military installations. The Act also directs the creation of a public adaptation and resilience clearinghouse and requires independent Government Accountability Office assessments to measure progress over time.

“As extreme weather disrupts supply chains, displaces populations, destroys critical infrastructure, and threatens military readiness, it’s clear that resilience is more than a value – it’s a national security and economic imperative. The Pentagon’s own assessment found that two-thirds of its most critical installations are already exposed to hazards like flooding, drought, and wildfire. Resilience is also one of the most cost-effective investments that government can make, with every dollar spent preparing for hazards saving six times that in disaster response. The Federation of American Scientists is proud to support the National Coordination on Adaptation and Resilience for Security (NCARS) Act of 2026, which would sensibly strengthen federal resilience planning and coordination, relying on the best available science to build a stronger and more secure nation,” says Dr. Hannah Safford, Associate Director of Climate and Environment at the Federation of American Scientists.

For more information, contact Gil Ruiz at GRuiz@FAS.org or Hannah Safford at HSafford@FAS.org.

Nearly 150 organizations and government officials have endorsed the call to action and solutions for extreme heat, now public at HeatAgenda.US

Washington, D.C. – July 7, 2026 – As millions of Americans continue to struggle to stay cool following one of the hottest Independence Day holidays on record, the Federation of American Scientists (FAS), one of the oldest nonpartisan, nonprofit science policy organizations in the United States, is today releasing the State and Local Heat Policy Agenda – a clear statement of what’s needed to protect American workers, children, and communities from the rapidly escalating threat of extreme heat. Almost 150 organizations and government officials, representing over 40 states, have signed onto this call to action, now visible at HeatAgenda.US.

“More places than ever are now struggling with extreme heat. As America celebrated its 250th anniversary this past weekend, over 185 million Americans – over half the population – were under an extreme heat alert,” observes Dr. Hannah Safford, Associate Director of Climate and Environment. “The State and Local Heat Policy Agenda helps communities adapt to this new normal, by providing easy access to the solutions that science shows can effectively curb the worst impacts of dangerously hot temperatures.”

The State and Local Heat Policy Agenda was created by FAS in collaboration with hundreds of policymakers, practitioners, researchers, advocacy organizations, community-based organizations, government officials, private companies, and other contributors. The Agenda outlines 15 outcomes that state and local leaders should pursue in order to ensure Safe Homes, Safe Workplaces, Safe Schools and Childcare, and Safe Communities when extreme heat hits. 

Signatories include the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Physicians, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, the United Auto Workers (UAW) Center for Manufacturing a Green Economy, Climate Mayors, GreenLatinos, the Healthy Schools Network, ICLEI USA, the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health, the National Housing Trust, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), the Union of Concerned Scientists, WE ACT for Environmental Justice, and more than 100 other labor, health, advocacy, family and children, environmental, and public-sector organizations. The full list of signatories is available here.

To support Agenda implementation, HeatAgenda.US also includes a searchable database of more than 400 specific evidence-based policy solutions to extreme heat, as well as case studies from all 50 states illustrating the success of these solutions in action.

“Our research found heat-related actions happening in every state in the country. To orient this growing community of policymakers, we created the go-to guide for tackling extreme heat,” says Grace Wickerson, Senior Manager of Climate and Health. “Our policy recommendations aim to keep people safe now from dangerous heat exposure while building communities that don’t just survive the heat season, but thrive despite it.”

The call to action and resources available at HeatAgenda.US complements FAS’s federally oriented 2025 Heat Policy Agenda, recognizing the growing importance of state and local leadership on climate-related extreme weather events such as extreme heat.

Interested parties can sign on to the State and Local Heat Policy Agenda here. FAS will continue publicizing new supporters through the end of the summer, illustrating the broad support for action to build a heat-resilient nation.

To learn more, contact Grace Wickerson (gwickerson@fas.org). For media inquiries, contact Katie McCaskey (kmccaskey@fas.org). 

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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, FAS continues to bring scientific rigor and analysis to address national challenges. More information about FAS’s work at fas.org.

Dr. Isler is speaking at the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade

Washington, D.C. – June 30, 2026 – Called today to speak on behalf of U.S. science and technology, Dr. Jedidah Isler, astrophysicist, educator, strategist, policy-maker, and science communicator, will provide constructive, nonpartisan feedback to the House Committee’s hearing “American Global Competitiveness at 250: Legislative Proposals to Secure U.S. Technology Leadership.” Dr. Isler is the Chief Science Officer at the Federation of American Scientists (FAS), the oldest non-partisan, nonprofit science policy organization dedicated to developing evidence-based policies. Today’s hearing is to examine and evaluate legislative proposals that aim to bolster U.S. technological leadership. Also called as witnesses are representatives from the Abundance Institute, Boston Dynamics, and U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

“My focus is delivering recommendations that support the foundational investments necessary for the United States to lead. This includes strengthening the STEM talent pipeline, building the workforce, improving our nation’s industrial capacity, broadening our R&D ecosystem, securing our supply chains, and — running through all of these – ensuring a shared commitment to increasing government capacity to ensure implementation,” says Dr. Jedidah Isler, Chief Science Officer of FAS.

She continues:  “We must fund the research and discovery work that continues to pay both figurative and literal dividends to our nation. Studies, commissions, procurement restrictions, and security reviews can be useful, but they only matter if Congress also protects the upstream research and workforce base that makes American technology leadership possible.”

You can read her complete testimony here.

Science-First Competitiveness

Technology is what science becomes when knowledge is translated into tools, products, systems, and capabilities. The United States cannot lead in the technologies of the future while neglecting the scientific enterprise — and most critically the people —  that produce these discoveries.

The U.S. science and tech ecosystem impacts every sector of the economy. A strong base of education, talent, and financial resources are necessary to retain our global standing.

Global technology competition has changed. The United States remains a science and technology superpower, but it is no longer the undisputed leader across the full set of global indicators. China is now the central pacing challenge, but this is not only a China story. Europe, the United Kingdom, India, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and other partners and competitors are deliberately organizing capital, talent, infrastructure, standards, and policy around the next generation of strategic technologies. Global tech leadership is more and more about who trains the workforce, owns the equipment, sets the standards, controls supply chains, and translates discovery into deployment most effectively.

Dr. Isler will argue that the United States has scientific ingenuity, entrepreneurial talent, capital, and motivated workers. What it too often lacks is a coherent system for connecting them toward a common goal. Congress can help build that system by aligning research, talent, standards, supply chains, public finance, procurement, and government capacity around clear national objectives. That is how the United States can turn discovery into products, companies, jobs, strategic advantage, and technological progress that benefits all Americans for the next 250 years.

Additionally, the U.S. must establish – or support existing – safeguards to protect researcher independence in pursuit of discovery. For example, Dr. Isler will urge the Committee to guard against political interference and interrupted access to federal funding, data, labs, and other publicly-​​funded resources. 

FAS Role in the Science and Technology Ecosystem

The Federation of American Scientists approaches technology competitiveness from a science-first perspective. FAS was established 80 years ago by Manhattan Project scientists who understood that technological innovations must also be governed by those who understand the scale of its impact. Today FAS works 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. FAS continues to bring scientific rigor and analysis to address national challenges. More information about FAS’s work at fas.org.

More About Dr. Jedidah Isler

Dr. Isler joined the executive leadership team at FAS after serving as a Principal Assistant Director in the White House Office of Science & Technology Policy and as interim deputy director for the Science & Society division. There she helped develop, support, and advance numerous policy initiatives, including codification of public access to federally funded research, STEM education, research security, R&D infrastructure, equitable engagement, open science, and artificial intelligence. In particular, she conceptualized and helped deploy the nation’s first national strategy to address structural barriers for people interested in or pursuing STEM disciplines, including the development of public-private partnerships and commitments of over $1B. 

Previously, she served on several large-scale organizational reviews for the American Institute of Physics, the National Academies of Science, Engineering & Medicine, and the Agency Review Team for NASA.

Before turning her attention to science policy, Dr. Isler was a member of the Physics & Astronomy faculty at Dartmouth College, where she pursued her award-winning research on hyperactive, supermassive black holes. She is a proud graduate of Norfolk State University and Fisk University and received her Ph.D. at Yale University. She held research fellowships at Harvard University, Vanderbilt University, and Syracuse University and was supported by the National Science Foundation, NASA, and the Ford Foundation. Her research, advocacy, and expertise in science communication have won numerous professional recognitions and have been highlighted  in various television, social and print media features. 

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Denice Ross, former U.S. Chief Data Scientist, to lead during a time of interrupted and discontinued data collection and access

Washington, D.C. – June 30, 2026 – A well-functioning democracy relies on federal data to provide services, measure progress, meet opportunities, and address challenges. Today the Federation of American Scientists (FAS), the oldest non-partisan, nonprofit science policy organization dedicated to developing evidence-based policies, announces the launch of the Data Policy Institute to monitor changes to federal datasets, mobilize data stakeholders to engage with government officials, advance policies to protect and improve essential public data; and design America’s future data ecosystem.

“Federal data are contributed by, and the property of, all Americans. Data are ubiquitous in our society, enabling everything from weather forecasts to school lunches. FAS is particularly concerned about the future of federal data, and what that might mean for our nation’s scientific and technical capabilities and our country’s continued ability to do the ‘impossible’. That’s why it is so important to enable the data scientists and public servants who understand this emerging field best,” says Dr. Jedidah Isler, Chief Science Officer of FAS.

She continues: “Federal data and access to it is not a partisan issue. It is a people issue. Our country cannot achieve greatness without access to the data that measure what we value, who we are, and where we’re heading.” 

The FAS Data Policy Institute will fill a critical, urgent niche in the U.S. data ecosystem, taking an entrepreneurial, human-centered, and government-wide approach to supporting the continued flow of essential federal datasets across domains.

“FAS is well-positioned to lead this work,” says Denice Ross, FAS Director of Data Policy.  “As an organization that embeds science, technology, and expertise into government and public discourse, FAS brings policy entrepreneurship, a talent innovation model, and a growing network of recently-exited federal data professionals who understand what’s being lost and what needs to change.”

Unprecedented Federal Data Loss and Consequences

Today, federal capacity to produce the data essential for running a modern society—supporting small businesses, families, the economy, public health, national security, and more—has been greatly diminished. Federal data programs are experiencing massive funding cuts, reductions in contracts, and discontinuations of data products. The data workforce is itself at risk, as layoffs and departures hollow out the institutional knowledge that makes federal data useful. This is resulting in decreased data timeliness, accuracy, and detail.

More broadly, modern challenges such as the impact of AI on the workforce and climate-fueled disasters require a level of cross-agency integration that legacy federal data systems weren’t built to handle. Declining survey response rates and public hesitancy to provide personal information further exacerbate these issues. And public understanding of federal data — who uses it, what it enables, what’s at stake when it disappears — remains limited.

Changes in Data Policies Impact Science and Technology

There have been deep and subtle changes over the last year in both the implementation and interpretation of data policies, as well as changes to federal data policies themselves. For example, the Data Policy Institute team has observed:

• Narrowing or bypassing opportunities for public input 
• Scaling back data collections to only those required by statute, rather than the full scope needed to effectively serve the American people
• Backsliding on data policies necessary to identify demographic, geographic, and other disparities
• Increasing barriers to public and researcher access to critical federal datasets
• Loss of opportunities for agency staff to confer with outside experts on complex technical matters, through advisory committees and conferences 

“These changes are worrisome because scientific discovery depends on rich data; that is, data that provide decades of perspective as well as continuously expanded datasets as technologies improve,” says Melanie Klein, Senior Associate.  

Americans Benefit When Federal Data Policies are Modern and Resilient

As the capacity of the federal government to produce data erodes, some federal collections will be absolutely essential to be preserved; however, it would be shortsighted to advocate for rebuilding the infrastructure as it was.

In the short term, the Data Policy Institute is scaling our established monitoring and public engagement offerings at dataindex.us to cover more federal agencies and types of data, and to expand the storytelling about why federal data matter at essentialdata.us.

In the medium term, this shifts into developing new policies and practices to strengthen the federal data ecosystem and set the stage for America’s future data needs.

In the long term, the Data Policy Institute will establish a government workforce that is more data-policy savvy. This includes making policy people more conversant in data issues, data people aware of policy issues, and building a pipeline of new data policy professionals. 

This is all in service of building a national data infrastructure that is more resilient, more representative, and more responsive to the needs of American society. This includes revisiting data privacy, public engagement, archaic statutory divides between types of data, and the balance between statutory requirements and executive branch policies. 

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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, FAS continues to bring scientific rigor and analysis to address national challenges. More information about FAS’s work at fas.org.

RESOURCES
DataIndex.us
EssentialData.us

Federal Data Field Guide

FAS AI Impact Awards Presented to Advocates, Civil Society Entrepreneurs, Industry Experts, and Policymakers

Washington, D.C. – May 20, 2026 – Tonight at the International Spy Museum in downtown Washington, D.C., the Federation of American Scientists (FAS), a non-partisan, nonprofit science and technology policy organization, in partnership with the Future of Life Institute, the world’s oldest and largest AI think tank, conclude an 18 month project to investigate the implications of artificial intelligence on global risk.

FAS and FLI partnered to build a series of convenings and reports across the intersections of artificial intelligence (AI) with biosecurity, cybersecurity, nuclear command and control, military integration, and frontier AI governance. This project brought together leaders across these areas and created a space that was rigorous, transpartisan, and solutions-oriented to approach how we should think about how AI is rapidly changing global risks. Adapting to this reality will demand that policy​ entrepreneurs take action; scientific and technological expertise is a must for successful policymaking.

“FAS is dedicated to developing evidence-based policies to address national challenges, and the technical advances of artificial intelligence are already outpacing our expectations. We recognized an urgency in convening expertise across disciplines to better understand how we can reduce risk and increase societal rewards,” says FAS CEO Daniel Correa.

“AI is no longer a single-domain challenge. It is a force multiplier reshaping the risk landscape across nuclear, biological, cyber, and military systems simultaneously, and it is doing so faster than our institutions can adapt,” says Future of Life President and CEO, Anthony Aguirre. “That is precisely why this partnership with FAS has mattered so much. The report gives decision-makers a clear-eyed map of how these threats are compounding, and what we can do about it. The window to put sensible guardrails in place is open, but it is closing quickly. The leaders we are honoring show that rigorous, bipartisan action on the most consequential technology of our era is both necessary and possible.”

The AI x Global Risk Gala, moderated by Ashley Gold, Senior Technology Policy Reporter at Axios, will highlight a capstone report and present awards in recognition of AI policy leaders. Bloomberg‘s cyber and emerging tech reporter, Katrina Manson will host a discussion panel about the report. The panel will include FAS board member and former Acting Under Secretary for Science and Technology at the Department of Homeland Security, Dr. Daniel Gerstein.

‘Converging Risks’ Report

The primary report, Converging Risks: AI and the Future of Global Security, is the synthesis of sector-specific investigations into nuclear policy, cyber policy, biotechnology, defense, and critical infrastructure. Increasingly, AI cuts across all of them simultaneously.

The FAS team evaluated risks through the “Threat, Vulnerability, and Consequence” or “TVC” framework, a powerful acknowledgement of how stakes rise alongside introduction and interaction with multiple factors. 

The report illustrates how AI is complicating the risk calculus, adding complexity to systems and events, changing the speed at which we need to respond, and often increasing the scale of the risk.

“Despite the very real risks artificial intelligence presents, our report is not fatalistic,” says Dr. Jedidah Isler, FAS’s Chief Science Officer. “We know that productive conversations and proactive policy cannot happen if we operate from a state of hype, fear or ignorance. As scientists, we must use all of the tools at our disposal to reckon with what is very likely to be one of the most consequential technologies of this era. It’s innately a sociotechnical problem: it’s not just the technology, but what we think about it and how we collaborate in the face of tremendous change. We must begin by building government capacity, coordination, and translation infrastructure now.”

FAS AI Impact Award Winners

FAS will also present four awards at the Gala: the AI Advocacy Award, AI Impact Award for Civil Society, AI Impact Award for Industry, and the AI Policy Award.

Joseph Gordon Levitt, AI Impact Award for Advocacy

Joseph Gordon Levitt, the UN’s first global advocate for “human-centric digital governance”, will receive the ​​AI Impact Award for Advocacy for his work raising awareness of AI risks to non-technical audiences using his skills as a writer, director, communicator, and educator.

Mr. Levitt’s recent advocacy includes speaking out about Meta’s AI chatbots endangering children (September, 2025) and supporting an AI and child safety bill in Utah (January 2026).

Mr. Levitt and his organization, HITRECORD, explore the intersection of technology and society through both his creative work and advocacy around digital governance.

Sneha Revanur,  AI Impact Award for Civil Society

Sneha Revanur will receive the ​​AI Impact Award for Civil Society for her work founding a civil society organization, Encode, that works to influence federal AI policy that unifies pro-AI, pro-human perspectives.

Ms. Revanur began her activism work at age 15 when she learned that California was considering replacing its cash bail system with a risk-based algorithm and that the algorithm had serious racial bias baked into it. She organized a statewide coalition of high school students, fought the ballot measure, and helped defeat it by 13 percentage points.

Today, Ms. Revanur continues her activism work in AI regulation to ensure that trust and fairness are built into the often invisible systems that can have enormous impact on daily life.  

Chris Meserole, AI Impact Award for Industry

Chris Meserole, Executive Director of the Frontier Model Forum, will receive th​​e AI Impact Award for Industry for his work examining the security risks associated with artificial intelligence. He’s working to determine best practices to ensure strong interconnection between industry, research, and government. 

Prior to the Frontier Model Forum, Chris served as Director of the AI and Emerging Technology Initiative at the Brookings Institution and a fellow in its Foreign Policy program.

Today, Mr. Meserole works extensively on safeguarding large-scale AI systems against the risks of accidental or malicious use.

Senator Blackburn (R-TN) and Senator Blumenthal (D-CT),
AI Impact Awards for Policy Leadership 

How we govern AI’s impact on society is of utmost importance. Decisions made today will drive outcomes for years, and potentially decades, to come. FAS is presenting two AI Impact Award for Policy Leadership to honor work that anticipates and addresses future risks presented by artificial intelligence.

Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN),  Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) will be presented with the AI Impact Awards for Policy Leadership for their respective leadership navigating fast-moving technology and its implications.

Senator Blackburn of Tennessee has been a bold and consequential leader on AI policy. Last summer she successfully fought to remove a provision from federal legislation that would have blocked states from protecting their own citizens from AI harms for a decade. In December, she put forward a comprehensive national framework for AI governance that requires companies to conduct real risk assessments and establishes concrete rules on training data and deepfakes. Senator Blackburn also leads the Transparency and Responsibility for Artificial Intelligence Networks (TRAIN) Act, a bipartisan bill aimed at helping musicians, artists, writers, and other copyright holders determine whether their work has been used to train generative artificial intelligence models. 

Senator Blackburn’s forward thinking on AI has driven leadership on quantum computing development. She is advancing bipartisan legislation like the National Quantum Initiative Reauthorization Act to provide necessary infrastructure for future AI capabilities. 

Senator Blackburn serves on the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, of which she is Chairman of the Consumer Protection, Technology, and Data Privacy Subcommittee, as well as on the Senate Judiciary Committee, of which she is Chairman of the Privacy, Technology, and the Law Subcommittee.

Senator Blumenthal of Connecticut has been one of the earliest and most consistent voices on Capitol Hill regarding technology and its implications for society. He has been using his voice to demand that Congress show up for this moment. He brought Sam Altman to Congress for the first time back in 2023 to help educate lawmakers and urge them to act. He has since pushed for his AI Accountability and Personal Data Protection Act, bipartisan legislation to hold AI companies accountable for how they use copyrighted material to train their models. He also introduced the bipartisan AI Risk Evaluation Act which would create a dedicated AI risk-evaluation program within the Department of Energy focused specifically on national security, civil liberties, and labor protections. Senator Blumenthal co-leads the bipartisan Guidelines for User Age-verification and Responsible Dialogue (GUARD) Act to protect children against harms from AI bots, and this legislation is advancing in the Senate.  

Senator Blumenthal serves on Senate Committees on Armed Services, Judiciary, and Homeland Security and Government Affairs.

Two senators. Different parties. Different states. Different politics. Same conclusion: Congress cannot afford to sit this one out.

Policymakers in Attendance

Additional policymakers invited to the Gala have demonstrated leadership in advancing evidence-based artificial intelligence legislation, including:

Congressman Jim Himes (D-CT) serves as Ranking Member on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, has deep experience and unique insights into how U.S. intelligence agencies and the national security apparatus integrate artificial intelligence models, including how models could be used for hacking and cyberdefense. He will be a panelist at the gala.

Senator Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) serves on the Senate Armed Services Committee as Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities, and introduced the AI Guardrails Act to address AI use around lethal force, spying on Americans and nuclear weapons. The bill seeks to codify two existing Defense Department guidelines into law: that AI cannot autonomously decide to kill a target and that the technology cannot be used to conduct mass surveillance on Americans. It would also ban the use of artificial intelligence for launching or detonating a nuclear weapon.

Congressman Don Bacon (R-NE) serves on the House Armed Services Committee as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Cyber, Information Technology and Innovation. Congressman Bacon has championed and overseen the passage of numerous provisions pertaining to AI and risk in the FY26 NDAA. Bacon joined the Congressional probe into Elon Musk’s Grok AI over allegations of antisemitism and ‘deeply alarming messages’ (July 2025).

Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL), Congress’s only member holding a PhD in physics, introduced the bipartisan Responsible and Ethical AI Labeling (REAL) Act, which would mandate a “clear, conspicuous, and prominently displayed” disclaimer notifying readers or viewers that content was created with or manipulated by AI.

Congressman Rich McCormick (R-GA) serves on the House Armed Services Committee and as the chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations. He also serves on the Armed Services Committee, Oversight and Government Reform Committee, and is a former member of the bipartisan Task Force on Artificial Intelligence.

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About the Federation of American Scientists (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’s work at fas.org.

About the Future of Life Institute

The Future of Life Institute (FLI) is the world’s oldest and largest AI think tank, with a team of 35+ full-time staff operating across the US and Europe. FLI has been working to steer the development of transformative technologies towards benefiting life and away from extreme large-scale risks since its founding in 2014. Find out more at futureoflife.org.

RESOURCES

AI x Global Risk Nexus Project
Converging Risks: AI and the Future of Global Security (and briefing booklet)

• AI and Nuclear Command, Control, and Communications
• AI and Military Integration
• AI and Biological Risks
• AGI and Global Risk
• AI, Cyber, and Global Risk
• AI and Nuclear Risks

FAS AI Impact Award Winners

More on AI Advocacy Award winner Joseph Gordon Levitt
More on AI Impact Award for Civil Society winner Sneha Revanur and Encode
More on AI Impact Award winner Chris Meserole and Frontier Model Forum
More on AI Impact Awards for Policy winners Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)

Report provides research questions and calls to action that bring science closer to local communities

Washington, D.C. – April 7, 2026 – Today the Federation of American Scientists (FAS), a non-partisan, nonprofit science policy organization dedicated to developing evidence-based policies to address national challenges, released a long-anticipated report, The Civic Research Agenda: A national study of local government research needs and roadmap for university collaboration.

“Local governments are a juggernaut of policy delivery. The Civic Research Agenda underscores that giving cities and counties more ways to access the best and most relevant research produced by technical experts is crucial to driving that progress. Deeper connections between universities and local governments can unlock innovations from the mundane to the monumental,” says Dr. Jedidah Isler, Chief Science Officer at FAS. “Not only does this report include 432 research questions, it provides recommendations on how we can improve the actionability of research into communities.”

In addition to the Civic Research Agenda, this effort also produced seven (7) priority policy research agendas, one (1) Research-to-Impact Ecosystem report, and nine (9) city-specific science R&D reports.

“We know that science and research can bring catalytic impact to local policy making. Publishing an agenda to the university community breaks down the myths and assumptions of true knowledge gaps and research needs. Communities stand to benefit directly from the calls to action cited in this report.” says Kate Garman Burns, Director of State and Local Innovation at FAS.

Key Findings

The number one research need of cities and counties concerns housing. 

The other priority areas of research needs include: community engagement, economic development, service delivery, climate and energy, transportation, and human services (education, public safety, and health). 

Incorrect perceptions are stalling trust between these institutions. University faculty and staff fear being seen as too intellectual and disconnected. Local government staff fear being seen as not intellectual enough. 

Beyond any specific policy domain, local governments expressed the desire for support from the research community in three overarching areas: 1) evaluation; how can the research community measure and provide evidence that a policy intervention has achieved desired (or negative) impacts; 2) efficiency; how can the research community help local governments do more with less; and 3) data generation; how can the research community create and provide access to useful data that do not currently exist. 

“The City of Lincoln welcomed the opportunity this convening presented to catalyze our research partnership with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Following the workshop, we have continued to collaborate with UNL to develop the City’s Research Agenda.” – Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird, Lincoln, NE

Tracking the Demand and Supply of Research

The Civic Research Agenda considers the demand and supply of research: what are the research needs of local governments, and how can research outputs improve to “supply” or provide answers to better serve that audience?  FAS’s State and Local Innovation team hosted nine (9) in-person workshops in cities/counties across the country, and partnered with the National League of Cities and Porchlight Insights to produce two (2) national surveys.

“Research is essential to us. We hosted six university institutions at our workshop and are keen on continuing these conversations. We want to have the data to provide tailored solutions to each of our individual neighborhoods, we want to know what programs get the best outcomes, and we hope to partner with our universities to better our evaluation capabilities so that we know what’s working and what needs to be improved.” – Mayor Matt Tuerk, City of Allentown, PA

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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 national challenges. More information about FAS’s work at fas.org.

The State and Local Innovation (formerly, MetroLab) team within FAS aims to take good ideas from the lab to local governments through intentional, regular and impact-driven policy alignment. This mission is two-fold: to put science in cities and to understand, support, and enable transformative partnerships between cities and universities. More information about the State and Local Innovation team’s work at https://fas.org/issue/metrolab/. 

Kumar Garg and Matt Lira bring innovation and government expertise to FAS

Washington, D.C. – March 30, 2026 – The Federation of American Scientists (FAS) is excited to announce that Kumar Garg and Matt Lira are joining the organization’s Board of Directors.

Both Lira and Garg come with long histories of driving technological and scientific innovation both in government and philanthropy – and bring extensive networks and track records of impact to FAS.

“FAS has experienced unprecedented growth in the past few years, affording us the opportunity to broaden our focus to reach new domains, while expanding our playbook to generate impact in new ways. Kumar and Matt bring a depth of expertise that can help us continue to evolve – their perspectives are exactly what’s needed as FAS seeks to help the country renew its relationship with science and innovation,” said FAS CEO Daniel Correa.

Matt Lira is the Executive Director of Invest America, an organization which works to reduce income and opportunity gaps by helping families understand investing and take part in the financial system. He previously served at the White House Office of American Innovation where he helped coordinate priority policy initiatives. Lira also served as a Senior Advisor to House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy and a Senior Advisor to House Majority Leader Eric Cantor. 

Throughout his work in government, Lira has aimed to forge trust and consensus by bringing people together to find areas where progress can be made. In an era of deep partisanship, his work has frequently earned the support of both sides of the aisle.

“It is an honor to join the board of an organization with such a uniquely distinguished history and an even brighter future ahead.” Lira said. “Evidence-based leadership at the intersection of science and policy is more important than it’s ever been, and that’s exactly what FAS provides. This organization is poised to lead the conversation about the next era of innovation and the role government should play. I’m proud to support this important mission.”

Currently the President of Renaissance Philanthropy, Kumar Garg comes to FAS’s board with decades of experience across the science and technology landscape. His work includes designing and launching moonshot initiatives covering a range of technological and educational fields. He has also specialized in building multi-sector and multi-donor collaboratives aimed at supercharging impact at large scale.

Early in his career, Garg spent time shaping policy for the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, driving progress on topics ranging from education and workforce issues, biotechnology, entrepreneurship, space, advanced manufacturing, broadband, nanotechnology, behavioral sciences, digital media and incentive prizes. He also led efforts to bring computer science to all K-12 students, and the creation of iconic events such as the White House Science Fair.

“I have watched as FAS continues to work tirelessly to advance science and technology policy that benefits society. I am excited to join an esteemed board and help shape the future direction of one of the oldest science think tanks in the United States,” said Garg.

Garg and Lira were officially voted onto the board in September 2025 and January 2026, respectively. They will begin work at the next board meeting for a three year term.

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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 national challenges. More information about FAS work at fas.org.

What exactly does “all lawful use” of AI mean? No one knows. 

As a result of this weekend’s highly-publicized Department of Defense (DoD)-Anthropic dispute, we’re hearing a lot about the “lawful use” of frontier AI systems in classified environments. 

“Lawful” is a legal floor that will look increasingly shaky as AI capabilities advance. It doesn’t answer whether we have adequate civil liberties guardrails or technical safety standards in place. Company “red lines” only matter if they are backed by enforceable technical and contractual safeguards. Otherwise, they function primarily as signaling. From use to testing to deployment, the scaffolding for responsible integration of AI into high-risk use cases is just not there.  

Privacy is a major concern for experts and the public alike. When increasingly capable models are paired with large-scale government data holdings—including commercially purchased data on Americans—the result could materially change the practical boundaries of surveillance, even if each underlying dataset was obtained legally. AI systems expand the possibility of large-scale inference, enabling automated link analysis, behavioral pattern detection, and probabilistic assessments about individuals’ networks or intent across disparate datasets. 

Next, there’s the reliability problem. Frontier systems remain probabilistic and brittle, particularly in adversarial settings. The companies building this technology do not yet have a mature testing, evaluation, validation, and verification (TEVV) ecosystem for high-stakes national security uses. At the same time, DoD strategy documents are calling for a “wartime” posture toward eliminating blockers in testing and deployment. That tension should concern us all. 

Then, there are the numerous cybersecurity risks. Agentic systems that access sensitive data, ingest untrusted inputs, and can take external actions create new attack surfaces that adversaries will probe and exploit. In classified environments, these risks might be mitigated, but they don’t disappear. Subtle manipulation or model failure inside a military workflow can propagate quickly.

Capability is advancing quickly, but policymakers shouldn’t adopt faster than we can test and govern.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — February 12, 2026 — The Federation of American Scientists (FAS) today announced the launch of the Center for Regulatory Ingenuity, a new hub designed to reimagine how the government tackles “wicked” modern problems while delivering everyday benefits for Americans.

“We can’t manage today’s problems with yesterday’s laws,” said Dr. Jedidah Isler, FAS Chief Science Officer. “The Center for Regulatory Ingenuity will bridge the gap between high-level policy design and on-the-ground implementation, ensuring that government promises translate into real-world results that Americans experience.”

FAS is launching the Center for Regulatory Ingenuity (CRI) to build a new, transpartisan vision of government that works – that has the capacity to achieve ambitious goals while adeptly responding to people’s basic needs. CRI does this by (1) creating high-trust environments to brainstorm and refine the big ideas that will breathe new life into government, and (2) building a “network of networks” that supports policymakers and practitioners in implementing those ideas at scale.

“The administrative state has delivered extraordinary achievements in the past, but today’s operating model is a complete mismatch for the complexity we face. As a result, trust in government has been in the basement for decades,” said Loren DeJonge Schulman, Director of Government Capacity at FAS. “Strengthening government capacity is an investment in democracy and deeply intertwined with climate progress. It requires thinking creatively about how to build the government we need, not endlessly pointing fingers at the government we have–CRI aims to do just that.”

CRI is launching with a focus on climate: a space where there’s an increasingly evident mismatch between the functions the government needs to provide and the tools it has to deliver. FAS is pleased to welcome Climate Group North America, ICLEI USA, and the Environmental Law Institute as core partners in this initial work.

“Today’s rollback of the endangerment finding underscores that we are in a new era for U.S. climate policy,” said Dr. Hannah Safford, Associate Director of Climate and Environment at FAS. “To be clear: there’s no credible scientific basis for that rollback, which FAS strongly opposes. At the same time, it’s worth recognizing that while foundational environmental laws like the Clean Air Act worked to curb industrial pollution, they weren’t designed to guide the economy-wide transition to clean technologies that’s currently underway. There’s tremendous opportunity for innovation on how we design and deliver climate policies that are equitable, efficient, effective, and durable. With EPA stepping back on this front, it’s time for others to step forward.“

With the support of contributors from across the ideological spectrum, CRI is already charting paths for a renewed administrative state, a more responsive government, and ambitious climate policy that lasts. These paths are explored in CRI’s inaugural essay collection, Bureaucracy as Social Hope: An Argument for Renewing the Administrative State. The first two of these essays, “Rebuilding Environmental Governance: Understanding the Foundations”, by Jordan Diamond and collaborators at the Environmental Law Institute, and “Costs Come First in a Reset Climate Agenda”, by Devin Hartman (R Street Institute) and Neel Brown (Progressive Policy Institute) are available now; the remainder will be released in coming weeks. Other authors featured in the collection include:

• Nana Ayensu (Unaffiliated)
• Beth Bafford (Climate United)
• Angela Barranco (Climate Group North America)
• Louise Bedworth (UC Berkeley Center for Law, Energy & the Environment)
• Shaibya Dalal (PolicyLink)
• Kirti Datla (EarthJustice)
• Jennifer DeCesaro (Carnegie Endowment for International Peace)
• James Goodwin (Center for Progressive Reform)
• Kristi Kimball (ICLEI USA)
• Jennifer Pahlka (Recoding America Fund/Niskanen Center/FAS)
• Hannah Safford (FAS)
• Loren Schulman (FAS)
• Craig Segall (FAS)
• Nicole Steele (Amalgamated Bank)
• Ali Zaidi (University of Pennsylvania)

In addition, CRI is today releasing “From Ambition to Action: Shovel-Ready Policy Solutions for Climate Leaders”. This policy primer, crowd-sourced from dozens of experts and policy entrepreneurs, outlines how motivated public leaders – especially at the state and local level – can turn big ideas into reality, cutting emissions while delivering cheaper electricity, ensuring affordable housing, and improving transportation for all of America.

Moving forward, CRI intends to deliver more detailed playbooks illustrating how an approach grounded in regulatory ingenuity can improve outcomes and achieve goals in these key sectors, which collectively account for two-thirds of U.S. emissions and contribute at least 25% of U.S GDP. 

More information about CRI is available here. For updates, and to stay connected, click here. 

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.

Media Contact: Katie McCaskey, kmccaskey@fas.org, (202) 933-8857

Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it is 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’s the cost of failing to regulate climate pollution that will hit people the hardest,” said Dr. Hannah Safford, Associate Director of Climate and Environment at the Federation of American Scientists. “Climate change is driving up the costs of food, energy, and housing even as Americans feel pinched by an affordability crisis. Our government has a responsibility to address this cross-cutting issue, not shrug it off.”

The EPA’s proposal is the latest move by the Trump administration to gut federal climate policy, a campaign that 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, 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’s new Center for Regulatory Ingenuity is leading on this priority, alongside a broad, transpartisan network of partners and public leaders.

“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, effective, and durable,” added Dr. Safford. “The Trump administration may be stepping back, but many others are stepping forward to create a world free from climate danger.”

Washington, D.C. – January 13, 2026 — INRIX, a leader in transportation analytics and the Federation of American Scientists (FAS), one of the oldest science think tanks in the U.S., today announced the launch of the 2026 INRIX x MetroLab Challenge to enable data-driven transportation innovation.Announced at the National Academies’ annual Transportation Research Board meeting, the  partnership supports cutting-edge research that advances positive, human-centered outcomes in cities. This will be the third iteration of the challenge.

The 2026 Challenge officially opens today, Tuesday, January 13, and will accept applications from universities across the country through March 3, 2026. The program invites teams of researchers and local government collaborators to propose innovative projects addressing real-world transportation, safety, equity, and resilience challenges using mobility data.

At least five selected teams will participate in the public-private partnership and receive free access to a suite of INRIX APIs for up to one year, enabling applied research with direct relevance to communities and policymakers.

“Over the past two years, our partnership with MetroLab has demonstrated the value of working directly with universities and local governments to address complex transportation challenges,” said Ahmed Darrat, Chief Product Officer at INRIX. “By providing researchers with access to real-world mobility data, we have seen how academic insight can be translated into practical solutions that help cities improve safety, resilience, and quality of life.”

Last year’s selected projects investigated improvements to AI-driven traffic models, road safety, and access to healthcare, among other benefits. 

“Collaboration is essential to translating research into meaningful impact for cities,” said Kate Garman Burns, FAS Director for State and Local Innovation. “We are excited to once again partner with INRIX to give researchers and local governments access to powerful mobility data and to support projects that put people, safety, and equity at the center of community innovation.”

Highlights from the 2025 INRIX x MetroLab Challenge

During the 2025 Challenge, finalist teams used INRIX data to explore a wide range of pressing urban issues, including:

• Validating and enhancing AI-driven traffic models for New York City through the fusion of INRIX data and more than 500 traffic cameras
  
• Evaluating the impact of automated speed cameras on driver behavior and roadway safety ahead of a statewide pilot program
  
• Identifying environmental contributors to crash hotspots to better protect cyclists, pedestrians, and other vulnerable road users
  
• Examining vehicle abandonment patterns during wildfire evacuations to inform emergency response planning
  
• Analyzing driver behavior under congestion pricing using origin-destination trip data
  
• Improving disaster evacuation planning by predicting sudden traffic surges and adjusting transit services in real time
  
• Assessing how tornado warnings influence driving behavior and traffic flow to support emergency planning
  
• Designing patient-centered rural transportation services to improve healthcare access
  
• Identifying the most dangerous roadways by combining traffic volume data with fatal crash records to quantify risk disparities
  

Complete information on eligibility, the application process, available datasets, and example research questions is available at fas.org/initiative/inrix.

Researchers and local government partners are encouraged to share the Challenge broadly and submit applications over the next seven weeks. For questions, contact metrolab@fas.org.

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ABOUT INRIX

Founded in 2004, INRIX pioneered the practice of managing traffic by analyzing data not just from road sensors, but also from vehicles. This breakthrough approach enabled INRIX to become one of the leading providers of data and insight into how people move around the world. More information at inrix.com.

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.