Thanks to the collective action of our AASF community and allies, including over 1,000 professors, researchers, scientists, and advocates across the country, Congress has removed harmful language that would have prompted the reestablishment of the China Initiative from the Fiscal Year 2026 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies appropriations bill and reporting language. This outcome is a direct result of our community’s voice, expertise, and willingness to educate policymakers and leaders.

After a final vote on January 8, 2025, the budget and language do not direct the establishment of the China Initiative, a vast improvement over earlier language. Read the full report.

This is a meaningful victory. More than 1,000 professors, scholars, and researchers across the country, led by AASF fellows, as well as over 80 civil rights and advocacy organizations led by AASF and our partnering organizations, opposed this language in a joint letter. Our thanks go to the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) for their opposition to reviving the China Initiative and their bicameral letter, endorsed by 24 members of Congress and a number of organizations, including AASF. Combined, our efforts truly made a difference.

“As someone who lived through the human cost of the China Initiative, this outcome matters deeply,” said Gang Chen, Carl Richard Soderberg Professor of Power Engineering and Director of the Pappalardo Micro and Nano Engineering Laboratories at MIT. “Removing this language helps prevent a return to an Initiative that has misdirected and ruined lives. This is an important step, but it is not the end. Universities, funding agencies, and policymakers must remain vigilant so that scientists are not singled out again, and future researchers can pursue their work without fear.”

“The engagement of our AASF fellows, members, and leadership reinforced a clear message to lawmakers: our country and people thrive when we follow our American principles of fairness and due process,” said Gisela Perez Kusakawa, Executive Director of the Asian American Scholar Forum. “America’s ability to lead in science and innovation is strengthened by ensuring we are not taking a step back. Policies that erode trust and cast suspicion broadly risk driving away the very scientists whose work underpins U.S. innovation and competitiveness. I am grateful to the many professors, scientists, and researchers who stepped forward to advocate and educate lawmakers about these risks. ”

“This decision shows that policymakers can be persuaded when the research community explains the real consequences of past policies,” said Peter F. Michelson, Luke Blossom Professor in the School of Humanities & Sciences, Professor of Physics at Stanford University, and AASF Fellow. “U.S. scientific leadership depends on our ability to attract talent, collaborate internationally, and foster an environment grounded in fairness and trust. Preserving these principles is essential if we want American research institutions to remain credible, competitive, and strong.”

“From the start, it was clear to many of us in the U.S. scientific community that the China Initiative was more harmful than helpful in promoting American science and security,” said Steven Allan Kivelson, Prabhu Goel Family Professor at Stanford Institute for Theoretical Physics, and AASF Fellow. “The wise decision of the present congress not to reinstate this failed approach shows that our government does pay attention to input from the research community, and thus underscores the importance of continued scrutiny and engagement by all of us.”

This victory is significant but measured. AASF will continue to monitor developments to ensure no iterations or versions of these harmful Initiatives come to fruition. The community’s continued partnership is essential to safeguarding the future of U.S. research and the rights of people like you who power it.