Paulina Jaramillo

Program managers indeed make the final award decisions based on recommendations from the review panels. However, program managers are typically career scientists and not political appointees.

Senior appointees are political appointees: “Senior appointees and their designees shall not ministerially ratify or routinely defer to the recommendations of others in reviewing funding opportunity announcements or discretionary awards, but shall instead use their independent judgment.”

New executive order puts all grants under political control All new funding on hold until Trump administration can cancel any previously funded grants.

Peer review is mentioned. The EO says explicitly that agency leads are not required to follow the recommendations from review panels when making award decisions. The order gives final granting authority to political appointees. Here is a helpful summary: arstechnica.com/science/2025...

Why Do We Need Permitting Reform? (And Are We Asking the Right Questions?) Paulina Jaramillo, Ph.D.

Here is my first essay on Permitting Reform. I am still struggling with this subject and will expand my thoughts in future posts.

open.substack.com/pub/paulinaj...

I used to know someone who thought cars are utterly unnecessary and we don’t need home refrigerators because we should eat fresh food every day. I used to call it “developed world privilege syndrome.” Fortunately, its sufferers will soon be healed as these luxuries become unavailable in the US. 🤦‍♀️

Improving Oversight of Federal Grantmaking By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, and to improve the process of Federal

And here is the EO: www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...

Oh, and awards should go to institutions with the lowest indirect cost rates. Basically, we are in a race to the bottom in research. I am starting to question the point of staying here, working in a university, and trying to do research.

It also establishes that grantees conform to Trump’s politics on gender, immigration, and the country’s exceptionalism. It specifically calls for grants to “be given to a broad range of recipients rather than to a select group of repeat players.”

🧵I have been operating under the assumption that I will not be able to get federal funding for the next 3.5 years. This EO just confirms my assumption. The order effectively removes scientific review from the grantmaking process.

I did not know you had to be brave to say that AC is good. Seriously, who is arguing against AC? Maybe they should spend some time in poor tropical countries without AC. Or they could spend time at my kids’ HS in June. The building doesn’t have AC, and my kids get home with headaches and are tired.

Welcome to Amped Up: Energy Policy Talk By Paulina Jaramillo, Ph.D.

🔌💡Launching “Amped Up: Energy Policy Talk” newsletter.
After a year as a Congressional Fellow on energy policy, I’ll share insights on the energy transition.
First post up. Sign up! open.substack.com/pub/paulinaj...

YouTube video by tpratt441 The Newsroom - America is not the greatest country in the world anymore...(Restricted language)

This video is more relevant and accurate today than it was when it aired 10+ years ago. youtu.be/wTjMqda19wk?...

And most importantly, thank you to my husband and two teenagers for giving me the freedom to spend this year in DC. I missed them tremendously and am thrilled to be home.

#AAASSciencePolicy #CongressionalFellow #EnergySky #ClimateSky 6/6

Thank you to Carnegie Mellon's Department of Engineering and Public Policy for supporting this fellowship opportunity. 5/6

I also want to recognize my fellow AAAS Congressional Fellows. They are an exceptionally talented cohort who will undoubtedly continue making meaningful contributions to our world. 4/6

The Weather-Safe Energy Act was introduced in July, and I'm continuing to support the office on the Integrated Resource Planning Modernization Act, which is planned for introduction later this year. 3/6

I learned invaluable lessons that I'll carry forward as I return to my faculty position at Carnegie Mellon University.

I'm grateful that Congresswoman Leger Fernandez gave me the opportunity to develop two pieces of legislation. 2/6

🧵 Yesterday marked the end of an incredible year serving as an AAAS Congressional Fellow in Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernandez's office (NM-03).

Working alongside her dedicated team was truly a privilege. These public servants do the essential work of protecting our democracy every day. 1/6

My time in Congress has been very demoralizing. My boss is on the Rules committee, and we had to handle the reconciliation hearings. Feel free to tell me how awesome an accomplishment introducing this bill is, even if it won’t get any traction in the House. I need a morale boost 😁

I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to this important work and for Congresswoman Leger Fernández’s leadership in championing energy resilience!

www.congress.gov/bill/119th-c...

#EnergyResilience #ClimateAdaptation #EnergyPolicy #Congress #AAAS #PublicPolicy

This legislation represents a crucial step toward ensuring our energy systems can anticipate, plan for, and respond effectively to our changing climate. By integrating cutting-edge science with real-world stakeholder needs, we’re building the foundation for a more resilient energy future.

💰 Providing competitive grants to research institutions advancing this vital work

🤝 Supporting technical assistance and training for utilities, grid operators, regulators, and other key stakeholders

🔬 Expanding federal research on how meteorological and hydrological changes impact electricity infrastructure and resilience

⚡ Directing the Department of Energy to develop a publicly accessible, high-resolution weather data platform designed explicitly for electricity system planning and operations

Utilities and system operators lack the high-resolution data and tools to adequately address these climate-induced challenges.

The Weather-Safe Energy Act tackles this critical gap by:

As extreme weather events intensify across the United States, our energy infrastructure faces unprecedented challenges. Hurricanes, wildfires, flooding, extreme temperatures, and droughts are becoming more frequent. The events pose the risk of cascading system failures.

💡🔌I am excited to announce that Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernández has introduced the Weather-Safe Energy Act of 2025. I had the privilege of leading the drafting of this legislation as part of my AAAS Congressional Fellowship!
fernandez.house.gov/news/documen...
🧵

Excellent political cartoon from

jaythurber.com/2025/07/17/h...

Carrie McDonough and Paulina Jaramillo: The AI summit: Not good for Western Pennsylvania July 15 will be a big day in Pittsburgh, but at what cost? On that day, Carnegie Mellon University will host Pres. Donald Trump and leaders from the...

Read more at www.post-gazette.com/opinion/gues...

Our university should stand with communities fighting for a sustainable future, not with those who profit from environmental destruction. This summit represents everything wrong with prioritizing politics and profit over people and planet. Shame on CMU. #ClimateJustice #EnergySky #CMU