#315 3/3 Meeting; Fair Housing Webinars; VAST Report; Nation's Data at Risk; Firings Ruling
In This Issue #315
· 2025/03/03 APA Justice Monthly Meeting
· Webinars on Fair Housing Rights and Alien Land Laws
· Science Editorial; AAAS VAST Report
· The Nation’s Data at Risk
· Mass Firings of Federal Probationary Workers Likely Unlawful
· News and Activities for the Communities
2025/03/03 APA Justice Monthly Meeting
The next APA Justice monthly meeting will be held via Zoom on Monday, March 3, 2025, starting at 1:55 pm ET.In addition to updates by Judith Teruya, Executive Director, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), Joanna YangQing Derman, Program Director, Advancing Justice | AAJC, and Gisela Perez Kusakawa, Executive Director, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF), confirmed speakers are:
· Grace Meng 孟昭文, Chair, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) via recorded video
· Jessica Chen Weiss 白洁曦, Founding Faculty Director of the Institute for America, China, and the Future of Global Affairs (ACF), SAIS, Johns Hopkins University
· Michelle Lee, President and Board Chair; Brian Pang, Chief Operating Officer and Head of Partnerships, Stand with Asian Americans
· Clay Zhu 朱可亮, Co-Founder, Chinese American Legal Defense Alliance (CALDA)
The virtual monthly meeting is by invitation only. It is closed to the press. If you wish to join, either one time or for future meetings, please contact one of the co-organizers of APA Justice - Steven Pei 白先慎, Vincent Wang 王文奎, and Jeremy Wu 胡善庆 - or send a message to contact@apajustice.org.Congresswoman Grace Meng was elected to serve as Chair of CAPAC at the beginning of the 119th Congress. She will speak via recorded video on the future of our community and nation and how we can collectively address the unprecedented challenges.
ACF was launched on February 3, 2025, alongside the report "Getting China Right at Home," which examines domestic challenges amid rising U.S.-China competition. Jessica will introduce ACF, highlight key report findings, and share updates on ACF’s latest initiatives.SwAA was founded in response to the 2021 Atlanta spa shootings to combat anti-Asian hate and workplace discrimination. Michelle and Brian will introduce SwAA and its legal support, educational programs, and community-building efforts to protect and advance the rights of Asian Americans in professional settings.On February 11, 2025, CALDA announced that a temporary injunction against Florida's law SB 846, was imminent. This state law restricts public universities and colleges in Florida from employing Chinese students, scholars, and researchers under the pretext of national security concerns. Clay will provide updates on the lawsuit and its implications.
Webinars on Fair Housing Rights and Alien Land Laws
Founded in 2003, the Asian Real Estate Association of America (AREAA) is a national trade organization dedicated to improving the lives of the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community through homeownership.On February 28, 2025, Manisha Munikar, Chair of AREAA Policy Committee, will host a webinar with Gene Wu, Texas State Representative, about the current state of Alien Land Laws. Are people from China inherently a geopolitical threat? Questions like this are at the crux of the current issue of Alien Land Laws, many of which are threatening to pass around the country. AREAA has fought multiple bills like this on the grounds that they violate the Fair Housing Act. With the federal government taking a hawkish stance on China, it is essential to learn how we can keep Asian Americans out of the crosshairs.Register for the February 28 webinar at https://bit.ly/4bisfDc. The event is free for AREAA members and has a $20 charge for non-members.
*****On March 4, 2025, 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm ET, the Committee of 100 and APA Justice will co-host a webinar titled "Fair Housing Rights & Alien Land Laws: Challenges and Advocacy for the Asian American Community."With new laws limiting property ownership based on nationality, real estate professionals and advocates are stepping up to challenge these discriminatory policies. This webinar will provide critical insights into how these restrictions are reshaping the housing landscape and what we can do to fight back. It will cover:
· Your Rights Under the Fair Housing Act – Understand the legal protections in place to combat discrimination.
· How These Laws Affect Asian Homebuyers & Real Estate Professionals – Hear real-world impacts from industry experts.
· Community & Legal Advocacy in Action – Learn how grassroots efforts and legal challenges are pushing back and how you can get involved.
Stay ahead of these evolving legal challenges by exploring Committee of 100’s interactive map, which tracks ongoing land ownership exclusion laws quarterly, and APA Justice’s Alien Land Bills webpage, where you will find the latest updates on lawsuits and policy developments.
Register to attend the webinar at: https://bit.ly/4hEouum
Science Editorial; AAAS VAST Report
According to an editorial by Science on February 24, 2025, the chaos, conflicting information, firings, and hurtful rhetoric of the Trump administration’s approach to science over the past month are causing anxiety, grief, and concern for the scientific community in the United States. The dramatic events are reverberating around the globe.A diversity of thoughts from scientists in the US and around the world have appeared on the best approach to preserve science during this onslaught. However, there are principles around which all scientists unite—those of evidence, independence, process, and inclusion. These common values must now propel everyone in the scientific community to work together as never before to stand up for science.Leaders of the scientific enterprise in the US are a loosely associated group. Some organizations speak on behalf their constituencies and argue for support for science. University associations speak on behalf of their university members who carry out research. Leaders of the universities represent their own faculty scientists. Each of these entities has a different set of constraints around how it is funded and whom it represents. Their actions include:
· Filing lawsuits
· Working behind the scene in Washington DC
· Speaking out by issuing statements and objecting to nominations
Many university faculty feel that science leaders' actions are insufficient, but a full-scale resistance is unlikely given their broad responsibilities. The editorial urges trust in science leaders' judgment, emphasizing that timing is crucial and that most university presidents recognize this as an existential moment requiring careful, strategic action. While leaders may speak out more over time, their restraint is intentional, shaped by their responsibility to resources and people. Faculty and students must stay informed about shifting strategies, even if uncomfortable, as taking calculated risks in the name of unity is essential to preserving science’s mission.
Those in the scientific community who enjoy the protections of academic and other freedoms afforded by the US Constitution’s First Amendment should do and say more. Some will march in the streets, some will send messages to Congress, and some will focus on their research, students, and trainees. The Science family of journals will continue to uphold the highest standards of scientific integrity while publishing groundbreaking research, provocative commentary, and news that is unencumbered by interference. The weeks ahead may be the greatest test that the US scientific community has ever faced. Words and actions of all members of the scientific community—universities, journals, societies, associations, activists, and scientists—form the collective voice of science, not any one statement. In time, the dust will settle, and the new challenges confronting the enterprise will be clear. It will then be time to take stock and learn how to prosper in a new era. To prepare for that, the editorial concludes, "we need unity and support for each other now." *****On February 25, 2025, 70+ bipartisan leaders across science, industry, academia, philanthropy, and government released the Vision for American Science & Technology (VAST) to maintain U.S. leadership in science, technology, national security, and economic prosperity. Chaired by Dr. Sudip Parikh (CEO of AAAS), the task force outlines key challenges and solutions.Key Challenges
· Eroding Competitiveness – China and other nations are outpacing the U.S. in R&D investment.
· Bureaucratic Barriers – Regulatory inefficiencies slow innovation.
· Workforce Deficiencies – Weak STEM education and restrictive immigration policies hinder talent growth.
· Underinvestment in Fundamental Research – Federal R&D funding has stagnated.
· Fragmented Innovation Ecosystem – Siloed efforts across regions and industries reduce efficiency.
Recommendations
· Strengthen S&T Enterprise – Cut red tape, create regional innovation hubs, enhance tech transfer, and incentivize R&D.
· Build a Skilled Workforce – Improve STEM education, support educators, reform immigration policies, and boost wages.
Advance Key Technologies – Invest in AI, biotech, quantum computing, materials science, and energy, while balancing research security and global collaboration.
ConclusionWithout urgent action, the U.S. risks losing its scientific edge. VAST urges a cross-sector approach, investment in STEM talent, and reduced barriers to innovation to ensure economic growth, security, and global leadership. The time to act is now.
The Nation’s Data at Risk
The American Statistical Association (ASA) and George Mason University (GMU) launched a project to assess the health and effectiveness of U.S. federal statistical agencies in producing reliable data for policymaking.In July 2024, they released The Nation’s Data at Risk, highlighting challenges like resource constraints, workforce issues, and growing data demands across key areas such as public health, economic planning, and education.Now in its second year, the project’s "Ongoing Monitoring" phase tracks agency progress through regular data collection and analysis, ensuring they adapt to evolving societal needs.
The ongoing monitoring efforts concentrate on several critical areas:
· Resources and Funding
· Workforce Development
· Innovation and Technology
· Autonomy and Independence
· User Engagement
Stay informed on the health of federal statistical agencies or contribute updates at https://bit.ly/4ih5Qsp. Contribute information and spread the word on this effort. Protecting credible, objective federal data is crucial for our economy, government, and society.In Trump’s second term, agencies removed critical environmental data, including climate change reports from the EPA and NOAA, prompting urgent preservation efforts. A Trump executive order granted Elon Musk’s DOGE control over federal agency payments, leading to the deletion of websites, policies, and DEI programs, creating widespread confusion.
Mass Firings of Federal Probationary Workers Likely Unlawful
As of February 27, 2025, the number of lawsuits against President Donald Trump's executive actions reported by the Just Security Litigation Tracker has grown to 94.According to AP News on February 27, 2025, U.S. District Judge William Alsup ordered the Office of Personnel Management to inform certain federal agencies that it had no authority to order the firings of probationary employees, including the Department of Defense. The mass firings of probationary employees were likely unlawful, granting temporary relief to a coalition of labor unions and organizations that has sued to stop the Trump administration’s massive dismantling of the federal workforce. The case is American Federation Of Government Employees, AFL-CIO v. United States Office of Personnel Management (3:25-cv-01780), which was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.
News and Activities for the Communities
1. APA Justice Community Calendar
Upcoming Events:2025/03/02 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/03/03 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2025/03/04 Fair Housing Rights & Alien Land Laws: Challenges and Advocacy for the Asian American Community2025/03/12 MSU Webinar on China Initiative2025/03/16 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/03/30 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/04/07 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2025/04/13 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/04/24-26 Committee of 100 Annual Conference and GalaVisit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details.
2. 03/12 MSU Webinar on China Initiative
WHAT: The China InitiativeWHEN: March 12, 2025, 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm ETWHERE: WebinarHOST: Asian Pacific American Studies Program, Michigan State UniversityDESCRIPTION: A virtual discussion on the life and afterlife of the China Initiative, a Trump Administration program that has used racial profiling and fears of espionage to target Asian American scholars and researchers for investigation. REGISTRATION: https://bit.ly/4hVaITO
# # #
APA Justice Task Force is a non-partisan platform to build a sustainable ecosystem that addresses racial profiling concerns and to facilitate, inform, and advocate on selected issues related to justice and fairness for the Asian Pacific American community. For more information, please refer to the new APA Justice website under development at www.apajusticetaskforce.org. We value your feedback. Please send your comments to contact@apajustice.org.
February 28, 2025