AGU opposes OMB’s proposed overhaul of federal grant rules
The U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) proposed sweeping changes to the rules governing federal grants—giving political appointees veto power of peer review, allowing agencies to cancel active grants mid-project, and subjecting conference travel and publishing to advanced federal approval.
AGU submitted formal comments opposing the rule, warning it would let political priorities override scientific merit, choke off international collaboration essential to the Earth and space sciences, and bury researchers in new bureaucracy.
AGU also mobilized our community to do the same, contributing more than 1,300 comments to the more than 340,000 submitted by the public overall—the overwhelming majority in opposition.
AGU Session Finder and support for first-time submitters to the Annual Meeting
AGU’s innovative Session Finder uses advanced machine learning to identify the meeting sessions that best fit your abstract. Just paste in the text of your abstract to get recommendations and click to submit.
Attendees can also use the Session Finder to discover recommended sessions to attend during your time at the meeting. Enter keywords or drop in your entire bio to find research that matters to you.
New to the AGU Annual Meeting? Read our First Time Abstract Submitters Guide for step-by-step instructions. Students, first-time presenters, and presenters from low or lower-middle income countries can also participate in the Outstanding Emerging Presenters (OEP) Program. The OEP Program is designed to provide feedback and support for presenters in advance of AGU26, giving them the opportunity to refine their work and deliver a stronger presentation at the AGU Annual Meeting. Space is limited; sign up when you submit your abstract.
Training scientists during a critical election year
Elections happen every year in the U.S., but 2026 is especially important. AGU offers several opportunities to make sure voting and engaging with candidates to support science and scientists is quick, easy, and accessible.
At Science Votes the Future, find information on your election, how to engage safely, ways to contact your candidates, and how to register for our webinar series exploring all these topics in depth.
During AGU’s Summer Days of Action, we are providing members with opportunities to build lasting relationships with federal policymakers and candidates running for office. This guided pathway translates your scientific expertise into actionable impact from home.
AGU Hosts the First Global Data Resilience Convening
As threats mount to defund, remove, and alter scientific datasets, AGU brought together nearly 100 experts and leaders from research institutions, universities, and organizations worldwide for the Earth, Space and Environmental Sciences Global Data Resilience Convening in Berlin in March 2026.
Supported by the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, the gathering builds on AGU’s Data Resilience Project and produced an actionable roadmap for shared governance and a more interoperable, resilient global data system—one that scientists, engineers, public safety officials, and communities worldwide depend on every day. This work continues, with more to come as the roadmap moves into action.
AGU Grant Finder gives members access to thousands of funding opportunities
AGU members now have access to a searchable database of thousands of funding opportunities refreshed weekly from hundreds of sources. The AGU Grant Finder even offers personalized grant recommendations tailored to your research profile, so you can easily discover grants that match your professional goals. Access it through your AGU membership.
AGU defends NSF NCAR from dismantlement
On 12 March 2026, AGU officially submitted a response to National Science Foundation's proposal to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR). Our letter challenged both the premise and the process — arguing that NCAR's integrated, interdisciplinary structure is precisely what makes it irreplaceable, and that the rushed timeline and limited stakeholder consultation fall far short of good governance. In addition, more than 200 AGU members submitted their own comments through our Science Policy Action Center.
AGU and AMS join forces to maintain momentum of research supporting the U.S. National Climate Assessment
On 2 May 2025, AGU and the American Meteorological Society (AMS) announced a first-of-its-kind special collection focused on climate change in the United States. This effort aims to sustain the momentum of the sixth National Climate Assessment (NCA), the authors and staff of which were dismissed by the Trump Administration almost a year into the process. The new special collection does not replace the NCA but instead creates a mechanism for this important work to continue. The U.S. Climate Collection: Informing Assessment of Risks and Solutions is now accepting proposals.
AGU prevails in first lawsuit defending the U.S. federal scientific workforce
AGU and a coalition of plaintiffs have filed multiple lawsuits against the Trump Administration for its mass firings of federal employees. In the first case we filed in March 2025, defending the federal probationary employees fired "for performance," the judge ruled in our favor in a blistering decision issued this September. In our second case fighting the Executive Order directing large-scale reductions-in-force and reorganizations of the federal government, the federal judge issued in October a preliminary injunction — this blocks the government from executing mass firings or reorganizations of federal agencies during the government shutdown. These cases are part of AGU's ongoing efforts in the courts to challenge assaults to the federal scientific workforce. Our community is grateful for the pro-bono representation by Altshuler Berzon LLP and the State Democracy Defenders Fund.
Read more about the initiation of our first lawsuit here and the second lawsuit here.
AGU and IPCC partner to expand access to publications for work on Seventh Assessment Report
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the American Geophysical Union announce access to the full library of AGU publications for IPCC authors working on the Panel's Seventh Assessment Report.
AGU hosts new U.S. Academic Alliance for the IPCC
The U.S. Academic Alliance (USAA-IPCC), hosted by AGU, is a network established in March 2025 of U.S. organizations registered as observers with the IPCC to nominate experts for roles in IPCC reports. In April 2025, USAA-IPCC nominated 284 authors—the largest cohort ever nominated—to ensure sustained U.S. expert engagement in the Seventh Assessment Report.
Check the USAA-IPCC page regularly for new calls for experts, informational webinars, and more.
Hardship Waivers for membership
We know these are challenging times. If you have lost your job or significant research funding, AGU is offering a waiver for your 2026 membership dues. Follow the link below to see if you qualify.
Eos launches up-to-the-minute news blog and tracker on policy impacting scientists and research
Eos, AGU's award-winning science news magazine, launched Research and Developments in March 2025 to cover the flurry of news affecting our scientist community. Search or filter Eos's U.S. Administration Tracker to find out how Executive Orders and federal agency action are impacting science today.
AGU leadership speaks out in support of the science and scientists
AGU stands united with our members, partners and all affected by the ongoing disruption to scientific research and the solutions that research produces for the good of society. Our leadership continues to speak out for and stand by our scientists and the agencies and organizations who make our modern lives possible. Sign up for AGU Weekly to keep up on the latest in AGU news and opportunities to support the global scientific enterprise.