Response Center Updates

Update on Limiting Access to Federal Databases and Datasets

We are profoundly disturbed by the recent attacks on scientific integrity and science infrastructure, which threaten to undermine the very foundation of knowledge and progress upon which our society is built. These assaults, evident in efforts to suppress research findings, discredit scientific expertise, and dismantle essential scientific agencies, not only hinder our ability to address critical challenges but also erode public trust in the scientific process.

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Update on Federal Grants/Assistance

Per the federal court order issued on January 31, and based on the latest directives from federal agencies, federal funding should be flowing unimpeded. However, we are hearing reports that some grantees are still unable to access their funding and some agencies may still be reviewing grants for any language that contradicts the directives in the Executive Orders. Although the injunction applies to all federal funding, at this time we cannot be certain that the administration is applying it uniformly across all agencies.

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This administration has employed executive orders (EOs) to enact and propose policies across diverse domains, reflecting the President’s long-held priorities. The categorization below is an attempt at helping to make these broad actions more digestible and understandable, given their considerable impact and rapid implementation. 

Relating to the rollback of President Biden era executive orders and policies

Early in the second Trump Administration, President Trump quickly rescinded a number of his predecessor’s executive orders, particularly those that lacked some form of enforceability vis-à-vis legislation passed by Congress. These rescissions do not appear to have a clear or coherent policy goal, but are rather intended to undermine and nullify the legacy of former President Biden. These include: 

• Executive Order 14087 of October 14, 2022 (Lowering Prescription Drug Costs for Americans); 
• Executive Order 14110 of October 30, 2023 (Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence); and 
• Executive Order 14070 of April 5, 2022 (Continuing To Strengthen Americans’ Access to Affordable, Quality Health Coverage). 

A major component of this strategy involves both redefining and rolling back Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI, referred to as DEI by the Administration) policies supported under the prior Administration. However, while former President Biden’s focus was primarily on the activities of the federal government, President Trump and his allies have over several years attempted to (a) redefine “DEI” as a form of “reverse discrimination” (particularly on the basis of race), (b) characterize “DEI” as contrary to “merit-based” employment practices, and (c) expand “DEI” as an “issue” not just to be fixed within the federal government, but within private industry as well. 

Key Executive Orders 

• Recission of diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts across government 
• Recission of other Biden-era EOs including those related to artificial intelligence, prescription drug pricing, requiring databases to be updated, access to federal data, etc. 
• Recognizes two sexes, male and female, and directs agencies to use "sex" instead of "gender" in federal policies and documents
• DoD to end identification-based pronoun usage and restrict access to gender-specific facilities in the military 

Relating to “Government Efficiency”

Throughout his campaign, President Trump railed against what he characterized as corruption and inefficiencies within the federal government, and before taking office announced the creation of a new “Department of Government Efficiency” to address these alleged issues. A number of the Executive Orders can be seen as a fulfillment of this campaign promise. 

Meanwhile, incoming federal agency leads have quickly taken to translating these broad and ill-defined mandates into actual policy. For example, new leadership for the Office of Personnel Management emailed to all federal employees a memo outlining the incoming Administration’s vision for federal employment and offering all employees an opportunity to resign from federal service, while the federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued a memo (now rescinded) purporting to pause all disbursement of federal financial assistance. 

The practical impact of this activity has been one of confusion, paralysis, and intimidation both within and outside the federal government.  By overwhelming the government and federal grantees with broad demands on short timetables, the impact is to do damage to disfavored programs in a manner that cannot easily be corrected once the damage is done — even if lawsuits or Congressional action reverse these decisions at a later date. 

Another practical effect of these efforts is an expansion of the powers of the federal Executive Branch. Some efforts, such as the OMB federal funding freeze, are the subject of active litigation, and APA anticipates further litigation in response to some of these implementing activities. When federal courts act to block these activities, we expect a further response from the Administration calling for a more Administration-friendly judiciary. 

Key Executive Orders 

• Creating the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to modernize federal technology 
• Freeze on the hiring of Federal civilian employees 
• Freeze on the proposal, issuance, publishing, review, and completion of new federal regulations 
• Terminate remote work arrangements and require employees to return to work in-person 

Relating to “America First” trade and immigration policy

Consistent with the goals of the first Trump Administration, the second Trump Administration envisions a broadly-worded future of “America First” on the international stage, both through severe curtailing of legal and illegal immigration and by decreasing participation in international aid and international trade compacts. However, the second Trump Administration has announced a more direct, immediate, and aggressive effort to fulfill that vision. 



As articulated above, however, some of these executive orders affect programs that have already been appropriated funds by Congress, creating potential legal challenges concerning the role of the executive branch vs. the role of the legislative branch. 

Key Executive Orders  on immigration

• Limiting the right to birthright citizenship 
• Implement stricter “enhanced vetting” for visa applicants 
• Increased border security and declaring national emergency at the southern border 
• Realigned the United States Refugee Admissions Program 
• Eliminating resources for those seeking to navigate the court system relative to immigration 

Key Executive Orders on Trade Policy

• Adjusting trade policy and imposing tariffs on imported goods 
• Increasing domestic energy production 
• Withdrawing the United States from the World Health Organization 
• Reevaluating and realigning United States aid to foreign countries 
• Removing the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement