NASA stopped the operation of key committees in planetology and astrophysics through President Donald Trump's decrees.
In sent out 31 January Memorandums Agency ordered to suspend work at least 10 committees, moon, planets of the solar system and “oceanic worlds” (Jupiter's icy satellites and Saturn). Similar instructions have received astrophysics groups. The reason was the need to comply with six executive decrees, which include the cancellation of diversity and inclusion programs, limiting funding for gender research and canceling measures against climate change, adopted by the Biden administration.
Canceled meetings
This has already led to the cancellation of the first offline meeting of the Mercury Exploration Committee (MExAG), which was supposed to take place on February 4-6. Some participants have already started preparing for their travels. The meeting was planned in a hybrid format, with over 200 participants, including academics, related to the mission of BepiColombo (joint project of ESA and JAXA). Other committees, such as the Mars Exploration Group (MEPAG), also stopped their work.
Impact on science
NASA's science committees evaluate recent discoveries and missions, preparing reports for the departments of planetary science and astrophysics. Although they provide important guidance, their activities are not formal and are not regulated by the Federal Advisory Law. Many of these committees are administered by the Moon and Planet Institute, which is controlled by the Association of Space Research Universities.
In addition, NASA has cut funding for programs, related to diversity, and deleted the article about the historic recruitment of astronauts 1978 year, which included the first blacks, Asian and female astronauts of the agency.