On Capitol Hill and at home, physicists call for broader scientific workforce participation

In April 2022, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a piece of legislation that sent shockwaves through America’s education system.

The Stop WOKE Act banned Florida’s public schools and universities from teaching a variety of ideas related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Under the new law, teachers were forced to change curricula and, in some cases, cancel entire courses. While federal courts blocked the law’s university restrictions soon after enactment, variations of the policy started appearing across the country. Many in academia saw it as a warning sign.

“The legislation caused huge uncertainty,” said Julie Davis, the federal policy senior analyst at APS. “We had members reaching out anxious about whether they could continue their education research and public engagement programming.”

Concerned that these policies would reach the federal level, APS, the American Association of Physics Teachers, and the National Society of Black Physicists formed a coalition to advocate for programs aimed at broadening the STEM workforce. The group secured funding for advocacy efforts from the American Institute of Physics’ Venture Grants program in 2023.

A few months later, the House of Representatives proposed language in their annual budget banning the use of federal funds on diversity, equity, and inclusion programs and grants. The coalition already had a plan to push back.
APS Government Affairs headed to Capitol Hill, where they took meetings to describe the necessity of broadening the domestic STEM workforce. Two senior leaders from each partner organization then flew into D.C. to tell lawmakers how targeted recruitment and retention efforts help Americans thrive. These meetings were bolstered by a subsequent national letter-writing campaign that let scientists speak up for themselves and their communities.

“We wanted Congress to hear how important these programs were for our country’s global competitiveness, not just from the societies and their leaders, but from scientists across the country,” said Davis.

The plan worked: The proposed ban was dropped for fiscal year 2025. When Congress proposed a similar ban for fiscal year 2026, the coalition followed the same blueprint to similar success; a congressional report even included some of the coalition's arguments.
This past summer, with a ban on inclusive programming on the table again, the coalition made one last push: an event in D.C. with more than 20 members across the three sponsoring organizations and the American Astronomical Society. Participants like Maajida Murdock, director of STEM at the Al-Rahmah School in Maryland, shared their experiences working with federal programs to support underrepresented students.

“I’ve watched federally supported research experiences, mentoring, and enrichment programs transform how students see their own potential,” Murdock said. “My own path began with a telescope at age 12, and I want every young person, regardless of background or ZIP code, to have that same chance to find the spark that changes the direction of their life.”

Participants met with some of the Senate’s most influential leaders. One group spoke with Susan Collins, the Maine senator and chair of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, about the harms of the House’s attempts to block programs.

“Senator Collins was very receptive to our suggestions,” said Linda Antinone, a STEM educational consultant who took part in the meeting. “By speaking with her directly, we got to see the impact of our advocacy in real time, face to face.”
Members of the coalition who couldn’t come to D.C. met with their lawmakers’ local offices. In total, 34 participants met with congressional offices representing 24 states.

The coalition is hopeful that the ban will be dropped again; Congress recently passed a short-term continuing resolution to fund the government until Dec. 11, delaying negotiations.

“Our advocates have done a phenomenal job telling Congress why we need all of these programs,” Davis says. “Even in such a noisy political environment, Congress has listened.”