APS and two leading physics societies are launching a grassroots campaign to protect diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, which have been targeted by recent proposed federal legislation.
APS and the two societies — the National Society of Black Physicists and the American Association of Physics Teachers — support programs to increase the number of people from underrepresented groups in physics. The societies are increasingly concerned that a spate of
proposed bills, which would cut funding for DEI offices and programs at federal science agencies, will harm efforts to recruit skilled individuals from underrepresented groups to pursue STEM careers.
In July, leaders from APS, NSBP, and AAPT met with members of Congress on Capitol Hill to share their concerns about the legislation. The event was supported by a Venture Fund grant from the American Institute of Physics.
During the 2025 fiscal year appropriations process, all 12 appropriations bills in the House of Representatives included provisions to bar funding for executive orders around DEI programs and training. Additional provisions would prevent funding for DEI offices and programs at the
National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and NASA.
“On an organizational level, just the threat of this language in these bills becoming the law of the land has had a negative effect on our programs,” said Stephen Roberson, the NSBP president. “For example, some university and department leadership have discouraged or not supported their students’ participation in our National Conference or Student Leadership Development Summit, when this was not an issue in the past.”
“I hope that our membership starts to understand that they have real power to make change, whether that be through legislative means or by self-organizing to be better problem-solvers than the current decision-makers,” he said.
Beth Cunningham, the executive officer of AAPT, shared similar sentiments. “We are concerned that anti-DEI legislation will impact the participation of AAPT members in events and programs that focus on creating systemic, structural changes leading to equity and excellence,” she said. “Now more than ever, we need all students to say they belong in physics classrooms and can see themselves doing physics.”
To get involved, APS members can contact their congressional representatives through APS’s action center.
