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FYI science policy this week: May 19
E&C advances reconciliation text, Rules scheduled to vote this week… Last week, the House Energy and Commerce (E&C) Committee voted 29-24 to pass the Communications Subtitle of its budget reconciliation text. The Committee later voted 30-24 to pass the full text after nearly 26 hours of discussion. The Communications Subtitle includes two sections to reauthorize spectrum auction authority and provide additional funding for the Department of Commerce to modernize federal IT with artificial intelligence. The AI section would also impose a 10-year moratorium on state AI regulations, but this provision is likely to fail the Byrd Rule in the Senate and fall out of the final package. The House Rules Committee is now set to consider the “One Big Beautiful Bill” this Wednesday, May 21 at 1:00 AM, following passage out of the House Budget Committee last night by a vote of 17-16. (read more here, E&C memo, bill text, comparative print)
Commerce rescinds AI Diffusion Rule… On May 13, the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) rescinded the AI Diffusion Rule, issued by the Biden Administration in January to restrict foreign adversaries’ access to certain AI chips. The Trump Administration argued the rule would have stifled American innovation, imposing burdensome regulatory requirements on tech companies. BIS plans to issue new regulations to replace the diffusion rule, pursuing “a bold, inclusive strategy to American AI technology with trusted foreign countries around the world, while keeping the technology out of the hands of U.S. adversaries.” In addition to rescinding the rule, BIS also announced several actions to strengthen export controls: guidance alerting industry to the risks of using PRC advanced computing ICs, including specific Huawei Ascend chips; guidance warning the public about the potential consequences of allowing U.S. AI chips to be used for training and inference of Chinese AI models; and guidance to U.S. companies on how to protect supply chains against diversion tactics. (read more here)
FYI science policy this week: May 12
Trump reportedly plans to rescind AI Diffusion Rule… This week, the Trump Administration reportedly plans to rescind the AI Diffusion Rule (AIDR), issued by the Biden Administration in January. The rule was set to go into effect this Thursday, May 15, but the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) will be “replacing it with a much simpler rule that unleashes American innovation and ensures American AI dominance,” according to a spokesperson at the agency. Several Republican lawmakers recently sent a letter to the Department of Commerce urging withdrawal of the AIDR, citing concerns it is ineffective in preventing Chinese leadership in emerging technologies and creates uncertainty for U.S. companies. (read more here)
House E&C to hold markup of reconciliation text… Beginning May 13, the House Energy and Commerce (E&C) Committee is scheduled to hold a markup to consider its budget reconciliation text. The Committee prints include a Communications Subtitle, with provisions to reauthorize spectrum auctions and provide funding for artificial intelligence and information technology modernization. The markup begins Tuesday afternoon and is anticipated to run through Wednesday night. (read more here)
Senators seek input on AI project… On May 5, Sens. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and Mike Rounds (R-SD) released a Request for Information (RFI) seeking input on the American Science Acceleration Project (ASAP), a bipartisan initiative aimed at accelerating advancements in U.S. science. The RFI invites researchers, innovators, businesses, government agencies and the public to share proposals to equip American scientists and stakeholders with next-generation data, computing, and artificial intelligence capabilities, while also removing unnecessary barriers to innovation. The feedback received on the RFI will help inform legislation the Senators plan to introduce later this Congress. (read more here)
On May 9, the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee held a hearing entitled, "From Policy to Progress: How the National Quantum Initiative Shapes U.S. Quantum Technology Leadership." During the hearing, Members and witnesses discussed public-private partnerships, U.S. leadership and competition, research and development, national security and risk mitigation, supply chains, workforce development, and accessibility. Please see here for a summary memo.
FYI science policy this week: May 5
OMB releases President’s 2026 skinny budget… On May 2, the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) released President Trump’s skinny budget for fiscal year 2026. The request calls for a reduction in non-defense discretionary funding by $163 billion, including significant cuts to many tech-related agencies and programs. Among these cuts are a $1.7 billion decrease for the Department of Commerce, including a $325 million decrease for the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST); and a $491 million decrease for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the elimination of several disinformation offices. Despite these cuts, the Administration’s overview of the budget request highlights plans to support AI and quantum research, citing a need to “ensure the U.S. remains on the cutting edge of these critical technologies’ development and responsible use.” With the release of the skinny budget, the House and Senate Appropriations Committees are also set to begin their FY26 budget and oversight hearings this week, including the Department of Homeland Security, CISA, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. (read more here, fact sheet)
Trump Administration seeks input on AI R&D strategy… On April 29, the National Science Foundation (NSF), on behalf of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), issued a Request for Information (RFI) seeking input on updates to the 2023 National Artificial Intelligence Research and Development (R&D) Strategic Plan to help position the U.S. as a global leader in AI. Responses to the Administration’s RFI on the AI Action Plan issued in February will also be considered in updating the AI R&D Plan. Comments are due May 29, 2025. (read more here)
FYI science policy this week: April 28
Trump Administration initiates Section 232 investigation on semiconductors…On April 15, the Trump Administration announced three new Section 232 investigations on semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, and critical minerals. The semiconductors order notes the investigation will cover semiconductors, semiconductor manufacturing equipment (SME), and their derivative products, including, “among other things,” semiconductor substrates and bare wafers, legacy chips, leading-edge chips, microelectronics, and SME components. Derivative products include downstream products that contain semiconductors, such as those that make up the electronics supply chain. The Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) is seeking public comment on the order, with responses due 21 days after publication in the Federal Register. (read more here)
Read public comments and letters SPIE has sent or signed in support of optics and photonics here
This one-day forum focuses on the optics and photonics industry as an essential enabler of emerging technology. The full-day program hosts U.S. government leaders discussing federal policy and funding important to the optics and photonics industry with an audience of more than 150 company representatives. Our collective goal in meeting is to raise the profile of the optics and photonics industry, while learning more about the priorities of the U.S. government in this technology space.
The Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) Act of 2022 will invest $50 billion through the Department of Commerce’s CHIPS for America Fund. The optics and photonics industry should be ready to take advantage of this funding opportunity.
