Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios
The leaders of the House Science Committee sat down with Ashley and Maria today at Axios' event to discuss the future of U.S. competitiveness in science and tech.
The big picture: What Elon Musk's DOGE decides to do about the agencies at the heart of research and development could transform the scientific ecosystem — and put Congress in the backseat.
Here are some of the key quotes from our conversations with House Science Chair Brian Babin and Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren.
Babin: "I know there's a lot of nervous people out there right now and I don't blame them. But I'll tell you this president got elected to get rid of waste, fraud and abuse."
- Asked to give an outlook for tech and science agency funding, Babin said: "These are tough times economically. We have a $36.4 trillion national debt, and each dollar is precious."
- "Our appropriators in the House and the Senate have a big job. Everybody wants funding and we have to prioritize."
Babin also said he wants to tackle permitting red tape for space exploration efforts.
- "We've seen the private companies revolutionize the launch industry, for example. In fact, they're moving so fast that the problem is keeping up."
Lofgren: "I'm very concerned with what's happening with Mr. Musk, just cutting sort of indiscriminately. I don't think they know what they're doing. ... They just laid off some of the most promising scientists in some of those agencies."
- "Who's for fraud, waste and abuse? Not me. ... If you want to do reductions, do it in a way that is driven by policy."
Asked to give her advice for Trump and Musk on AI and keeping the U.S. scientific advantage: "First, stop. And understand there's nobody on either side of the aisle that is in favor of waste, fraud and abuse."
- "Come to the committees of jurisdiction who have oversight on these programs ... and work in a collaborative way. If we can't afford everything, work with us on what is most important."
- Lofgren said she hasn't had these discussions with DOGE: "I don't know how to get in touch with Elon Musk to be honest."
Lofgren said she hopes to continue House Science's bipartisan work, but Republicans need to stand up and say, "Wait a minute, stop here."
- "Not because they are against their president ... but the damage being done to the science enterprise is extreme, and in some cases, will not be undone."
- Asked if she'd seen any Republicans stand up to Trump and Musk on science cuts, Lofgren replied, "Not yet."
