Standing for psychology and psychologists

Tue, 28 Jan 2025 22:04:44 GMT

Here are a few of the many things we have been assessing and starting to address this week

In recent days, we have heard from members and many of you expressing concerns and sharing ideas about the scope and content of the directives issued by the new presidential administration. These directives encompass a range of actions, including hiring freezes for psychologists and interns, pauses on research study sections, and the elimination of federal diversity-related initiatives. Many of these actions directly challenge the policies and principles upheld by APA. Some of these actions also appear to ignore established science and may pose a threat to the work and well-being of our members, as well as the many people our field and profession exist to serve and support.

As we do with every new congress and presidential administration, APA and APASI are closely monitoring and analyzing these policy pronouncements, federal hiring restrictions, executive orders (EO), and forthcoming regulatory changes. Our goal is to identify potential impacts on our discipline and profession, as well as on our organization’s work, and to develop proactive engagement strategies.

In times of rapid change, it can be easy to feel worn down by the day-to-day turbulence. As an organization, we remain firmly grounded in our values and our mission to use psychological science and expertise to benefit society and improve lives. Our commitment to scientific integrity, non-partisanship, and meaningful engagement does not waver, even though the political landscape may shift.

Here are a few of the many things we have been assessing and starting to address this week.

Temporary Suspension of Scientific Meetings: The suspension of federal scientific meetings (e.g., study sections) is not unprecedented. Incoming administrations often pause meetings and external communications during transitions to allow new leadership to develop strategies and plans. At the same time, we understand how disruptive the pauses can be to ongoing work. APA is monitoring this closely and engaging with federal agencies to explain the consequences of such pauses and to explore solutions. We are working with our partners, joining forces to advocate for the importance of research to continue uninterrupted.
Key Actions Contradicting APA’s Values and Affecting the Work of our Field: Actions such as the federal hiring freeze, the elimination of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, and the withdrawal from groups like the World Health Organization (WHO) have far-reaching implications for psychological science and practice. APA is conducting thorough reviews of these and other changes and determining, on a case-by-case basis, how to respond most effectively. For example, we are actively engaged in rectifying and clarifying the hiring freezes on health service providers and trainees in government settings. As a result of coalition advocacy, the VA just today determined that essential healthcare positions such as psychologists at the Department of Veterans Affairs are exempt from the government-wide hiring freeze.
Cabinet Nominations: We are urging policymakers to support nominees who demonstrate a strong commitment to public service, science-based policymaking, and the health and well-being of all Americans. We will continue to work with the Senate to assess these nominees based on their qualifications, adherence to these principles, and their commitment to integrity and transparency.
Educating Key Partners and the Media. We are in regular touch with our coalition partners, policymakers, and reporters to share resources. Sometimes we may speak out publicly, often we will leverage our relationships with key members of Congress and the executive branch, or educate reporters behind the scenes. If you feel you have expertise that might be needed, submit your information to our media referral database so APA staff can share your name with reporters as an expert.

APA will continue to work with you to advocate for our entire field and all our members, ensuring that psychology remains strong and relevant. We will be relentless in using psychological knowledge to improve the human condition.

Temporary freeze on all federal assistance and grants payments

Tue, 28 Jan 2025 21:53:05 GMT

Pause on federal grants/assistance starts 5pm today

Last night, the Trump administration issued memo M-25-13 for all federal agencies to temporarily freeze payments on all federal assistance and grants, including those issued to research entities, hospitals, universities, and community projects, while the administration conducts a review of these programs, ensuring that they align with President Trump’s recent executive orders halting programs on immigration, foreign aid, DEI , gender identity, and the environment. The pause is slated to begin today, January 28, at 5pm EST, and the internal programmatic review runs through February 10.

As of this morning, the US Office of Management and Budget (OMB) had already worked with the Department of Education (DOE) on exempting Pell Grants and Direct Loans: “Per the OMB memo issued yesterday, the temporary pause does not impact assistance received by individuals.” Title IV (Higher Education Act) funds are provided to individual students and are not impacted by the freeze. APA staff is in contact with DOE officials to ascertain the impact of the freeze on Graduate Psychology Education (GPE) funding that goes to individuals yet is dispersed first through institutions.

APA/APASI Assessment: While there is likely to be litigation to determine whether the directive violates the Budget and Impoundment Control Act, any injunction will probably occur later than the start of the funding pause.

What you can do if you are or think you are affected

We will continue to closely monitor the situation; the APA advocacy office is reaching out to key contacts to ascertain the scope and meaning of the memorandum for psychologists. In the meantime, there are some things you can do.

Call your Agency or Academic Contact: We urge you to contact your grant officer/agency/funding contact ASAP today, January 28, to determine the status of your grant, contract, or funding and to ask under what circumstances your federal funding may be released. Note that government agency staff may be receiving conflicting advice so may not be able to provide you guidance or respond during the communications pause.

Questions you may want to ask include:

“If I was expecting a drawdown on <date>, may I still expect that payment?”
“The memo notes that exceptions may be granted on a case-by-case basis and that legally required agency actions may continue; does my award or any activity under my award qualify for this exception?”
“Will you or another staff person be available to answer additional questions during the pause?”
“Should I submit today/now outstanding expenses accrued before January 27 before the memo was issued? If so, is there an expedited way to submit that material?”
“If I have a reporting or submission deadline during the pause, does the January 27 memo impact that deadline?”

Contact your Organizational Leadership: For those individuals affiliated with academic institutions, you may want to contact your federal grants/contracts office, dean, and/or office of general counsel to seek guidance on how the college or university recommends you proceed.

Document your expenses: Remember to document your grant/contract/subcontract expenses, including work time, during the pause. Depending on the language of your federal government arrangement (or with the primary contractor), you may be entitled to seek payment for those expenses. As noted, the pause is slated to begin today, January 28, at 5pm, and the internal programmatic review runs through February 10.

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Standing for psychology and psychologists

Here are a few of the many things we have been assessing and starting to address this week

Temporary freeze on all federal assistance and grants payments

Pause on federal grants/assistance starts 5pm today

What you can do if you are or think you are affected