Federal funding agencies like the National Science Foundation (NSF), National Aeronautics and Space Agency (NASA), and the Department of Energy (DOE) are the backbone of astronomical research in the United States. As graduate students, we are both beneficiaries and stewards of investments into telescope facilities, space missions, fellowships and science grants. The recently-released Presidential Budget Request for Fiscal Year 2026 proposes a 56% cut in funding for the NSF, a 47% cut for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate and a 14% cut for the DOE Office of Science. Though the American Astronomical Society (AAS) issued a response, our voices as early-career scientists have the potential to stand out to members of congress.

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The Astro Grad Congress held its March General Body Meeting on March 31st, 2025, with 27 graduate representatives in attendance.

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Over the past few months, the Astro Grad Congress has been actively engaging with topics relevant to graduate student life through dedicated subcommittees. In this post, we highlight the work of each subcommittee, including our goals, recent progress, and future directions.

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The Astro Grad Congress held its December General Body Meeting on December 3rd, 2025, with 19 graduate representatives in attendance.

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In the past few years, there has been a surge of graduate applications to astronomy and astrophysics programs. Because the departments that offer these programs are generally rather small, graduate positions are inherently competitive. This has led to applicants experiencing exceptionally low success rates which creates a self-perpetuating problem. High volumes of applications not only place a heavy burden on admissions committees but also exacerbate issues of accessibility and inclusivity for applicants. Because this trend is considered unsustainable by many in the field, the AAS has formed a task force composed of members at all career stages.

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The Astro Grad Congress (AGC) held its October General Body Meeting on October 10th, 2025, with 15 graduate representatives in attendance. We’re excited to share a quick recap of what we discussed, what we’re working on, and how you can get involved!

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The Astronomy Graduate Student Congress is an initiative spearheaded by Lou Baya Ould Rouis (Boston University), Yasmeen Asali (Yale), Sebastian Monzon (Yale) and Lindsay House (UT Austin).

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