Ranking Member Sykes Calls Out Trump Administration’s Attacks on Science During Oversight Hearing

Ranking Member Sykes Calls Out Trump Administration's Attacks on Science During Oversight Hearing

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Representative Emilia Sykes (OH-13), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology's Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight, criticized the Trump Administration's attacks on scientific research and pressed Department of Justice officials about the Administration's use of the False Claims Act to target diversity initiatives at universities and research institutions.

"These were the issues this Committee should have been focused on, but that would have required my majority colleagues to take an honest look at what President Trump had done-something they seemed too afraid to do," said Ranking Member Sykes.

"If we were going to talk about fraud, then we should have talked about real fraud against the public. I think trying to create a $1.8 billion slush fund to make payments to the President's friends and allies who raided the Capitol is a fraud against the public. I think shifting $352 million from the Secret Service to help pay for the President's fancy new ballroom is a fraud against the American taxpayer. I think failing to comply with the Epstein Files Transparency Act and redacting materials to protect abusers, not survivors, is a fraud against the American public. I think fabricating a made-up legal settlement to shield the President from being audited is a fraud against the hardworking people of my district in Ohio's 13th Congressional District who do things honestly and expect their government to do the same. The idea that this Administration is genuinely concerned about fraud is laughable. Their positions are chaotic and full of hypocrisy."

During the hearing, Ranking Member Sykes questioned a Department of Justice witness about the Trump DOJ's interpretation of the False Claims Act and its use to investigate federally funded research programs and universities over so-called "illegal DEI" practices.

Ranking Member Sykes highlighted the economic importance of federal research investments in Ohio, noting that NASA and National Science Foundation (NSF) funding support scientific discovery, workforce development, and growing industries across the state, including the polymer industry in Ohio's 13th Congressional District. NASA science funding generates more than $56 million in economic impact for every $20 million invested. NSF has invested more than $2.8 million in her district in 2025 alone.