#389 Monthly Meeting Today; Trump-Xi Summit; FY2027 Science Budget; SCOTUS Hearing; +

In This Issue #389

·      APA Justice April Monthly Meeting is Today

·      05/14-15 Trump-Xi Summit

·      FY2027 Science Budget and America’s Brain Drain

·      04/01 Supreme Court Hearing on Birthright Citizenship

·      News and Activities for the Communities

APA Justice April Monthly Meeting is Today

The next APA Justice monthly meeting will be held today, Monday, April 6, 2026, starting at 1:55 pm ET.

In addition to updates from:

·       Judith Teruya, Executive Director, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC)

·       Joanna YangQing Derman, Program Director, Advancing Justice | AAJC

·       Gisela Perez Kusakawa, Executive Director, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF)

We are honored to welcome the following distinguished speakers:

·       Eric Zheng, President, American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai

·       Susan A. Thornton, Vice Chair, U.S. Heartland China Association

·       Susan Shirk, Research Professor; Director Emeritus, 21st Century China Center, University of California, San Diego

Although the Trump-Xi summit has been postponed to May 14-15, 2026, U.S.-China relations remain the most consequential global issue of our time — with profound implications for trade, education, international exchange, and the well-being of Chinese Americans, Asian Americans, and immigrant communities nationwide. This meeting will bring together some of the most informed voices on these issues for a timely and wide-ranging conversation.

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 - Vincent Wang 王文奎 and Jeremy Wu 胡善庆 - or send a message to contact@apajustice.org.  

05/14-15 Trump-Xi Summit

The Trump-Xi summit, originally scheduled for late March 2026, has been postponed to May 14–15, 2026. Both Washington and Beijing are currently signaling that the delay is due to logistical reasons related to the ongoing war in Iran, rather than a breakdown in bilateral relations.

The U.S. Perspective

Washington is framing the meeting as a high-stakes opportunity to maintain stability despite geopolitical distractions.

·       Reason for Delay: President Trump postponed the trip to remain in Washington as commander-in-chief during the U.S. war with Iran.

·       Diplomatic Strategy: The White House has indicated that cabinet-level officials will travel to China in the coming weeks to prepare, though U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer recently cast doubt on the necessity of such pre-meetings.

·       Focus Areas: Key priorities include managing tariffs, high-tech export controls, and ensuring China follows through on its agricultural purchase commitments such as soybeans.

The Chinese Perspective

Beijing is viewing the summit with a mix of cautious optimism and strategic frustration.

·       Measured Response: Chinese officials have been "measured" regarding the delay, emphasizing that dialogue is vital to preventing "globally damaging miscalculations".

·       Frustrations: Reports suggest Beijing is irked by a "last-minute scramble" and perceived insufficient U.S. preparation, which they fear may limit the summit to narrow trade deals rather than broader strategic issues.

·       Core Interests: President Xi is expected to push for a softening of the U.S. stance on Taiwan and seek a "total reset" of ties following the 2025 trade truce.

Related Developments

·       Trade Probes: In the lead-up to May, China has launched fresh trade investigations into U.S. practices as calibrated countermeasures to earlier Trump administration probes.

·       Taiwan Visits: A bipartisan U.S. congressional delegation plans to visit Taipei before the May summit to demonstrate "unwavering commitment," a move Beijing typically views as a provocation.

·       KMT Chair Visits China: Cheng Li-wun 鄭麗文, Chair of Taiwan's main opposition party, the Kuomintang (KMT)—also known as the Chinese Nationalist Party—is scheduled to lead a delegation to China from April 7 to 12, 2026.   It marks the first trip by a sitting KMT leader to the mainland in a decade.

FY2027 Science Budget and America’s Brain Drain

According to multiple reports, for the second consecutive year, the Trump administration has proposed dramatic cuts to the budgets of major U.S. science agencies. The White House's fiscal year 2027 budget proposal, released April 3, would make some of the deepest reductions in the history of American science funding.

The proposed cuts are stark. The National Science Foundation would see its budget slashed by nearly 55%, from $8.8 billion to $4 billion. The Environmental Protection Agency would face a similar cut of more than 50%. NASA would lose 23% of its total budget and nearly half of its science division funding, with more than 40 projects terminated. The National Institutes of Health would lose 13%, and three of its 27 institutes — including those focused on minority health and health disparities, international research, and alternative medicine — would be shut down entirely. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's research office would be eliminated altogether.

The administration's stated rationale is to redirect resources toward presidential priorities — the military budget would increase 44% to $1.5 trillion — while maintaining targeted funding for artificial intelligence and quantum computing research at the defense and energy departments. However, even basic AI and quantum research at NSF would be cut by 32% and 37% respectively.

To partially offset military budget increase, the administration called for $73 billion in reduced domestic spending, a 10% cut spread across several federal agencies that support social services, health, research, housing and education programs.

A new and troubling element in this year's proposal is a ban on using federal funds for academic journal subscriptions and publishing fees, without defining what constitutes "expensive" or "prohibitively high" costs.

Scientists have reacted with alarm. "We cannot cut the pipeline and expect the output to continue," said glaciologist Leigh Stearns of the University of Pennsylvania. "This is how the US loses its scientific leadership — with a reckless budget line." NASA's proposed cuts were described as "an extinction-level event for science" by the Planetary Society's chief of space policy.

Importantly, it is Congress — not the president — that ultimately controls the federal budget. Congress rejected similar proposals last year, restoring funding for many of the programs the White House sought to eliminate. Budget negotiations for fiscal year 2027 could last well into the fall, particularly given Congressional elections in November.

Fiscal year 2027 starts on October 1, 2026.

For the AAPI community, the proposed elimination of NIH's institute on minority health and health disparities is of particular concern, as is the broader chilling effect these cuts would have on the academic and scientific community — including the Asian American researchers and scientists who have already been disproportionately targeted by surveillance, racial profiling, and the legacy of the China Initiative.

Read the statements and reports by American Association for the Advancement of Science, Association of American Medical Colleges, Association of American Universities, Nature, The Planetary Society, and The Science Coalition.

A New York Times report describes a growing risk of a U.S. “brain drain” as scientists leave the country due to cuts in research funding and stricter immigration policies. It highlights the case of robotics engineer Wali Malik, who moved to Austria to lead a new lab and recruited other top researchers from leading U.S. institutions. Experts warn that declining investment and talent loss could harm U.S. innovation and economic growth, while countries like Canada, China, and those in the European Union are actively attracting displaced scientists with new funding programs. Although the U.S. remains a major hub for research and venture capital, concerns are rising that reduced support for science could weaken its long-term leadership, even as some researchers weigh lower salaries abroad against greater stability and quality of life.

04/01 Supreme Court Hearing on Birthright Citizenship

On April 1, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a closely watched case challenging President Donald Trump’s executive order to limit birthright citizenship under the 14th Amendment. A decision is expected in June or July and could have far-reaching implications for constitutional rights, immigration policy, and longstanding legal precedent.

Outside the Court, demonstrators gathered in significant numbers, reflecting the intensity of public interest and concern. Advocacy organizations, including APIAVote and Stop AAPI Hate, joined a broad coalition of civil rights groups emphasizing the potential impact on immigrant communities, including Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.

Legal experts have underscored the high stakes. Cecillia Wang 王德棻, a birthright citizen born in Oregon to Taiwanese immigrant parents and National Legal Director of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), argued at the Supreme Court that the case tests a foundational principle of equal citizenship, warning that narrowing birthright protections could create uncertainty and unequal treatment under the law. The ACLU and allied organizations have been actively engaged in legal advocacy and public education around the issue.

If there is one line to take away from the Supreme Court hearing, it might be these words spoken by Chief Justice John Roberts: “It’s a new world. It’s the same Constitution.”  Roberts’ words came as a retort to an argument from Solicitor General John Sauer, who sought to defend Trump’s executive order in the face of the Constitution, the law and precedent that have long stood for a basic premise of American life: If you’re born here, you’re a citizen.

Asian Law Caucus, located in San Francisco where Wong Kim Ark 黄金德 led and won a historic Supreme Court ruling in United States v. Wong Kim Ark, is also a plaintiff in the lawsuit against the Executive Order.

Members of Congress have also weighed in. The Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus has voiced strong support for preserving birthright citizenship, including Chair Grace Meng 孟昭文’s statement and amicus briefs, highlighting its importance to immigrant communities and American identity.

Rep. Ro Khanna, Ranking Member of the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party, issued a statement in response to the Trump Administration’s attempts to end birthright citizenship.  Born in Philadelphia to Indian parents, Rep. Khanna said,

“For centuries, Chinese Americans have helped build this country. From workers on the transcontinental railroad to particle physicist Chien-Shiung Wu 吳健雄, to architect I.M. Pei 貝聿銘, thousands of Chinese Americans have contributed immeasurably to our nation’s innovation, culture, and success. Continuing to attract immigrant contributions is paramount to American exceptionalism.

“Way back in 1869, Frederick Douglass argued passionately for Chinese immigration and for a diverse, ‘composite’ American nationality. After being enslaved for nearly twenty years, he spoke in support of a multiracial democracy including Chinese immigrants, saying ‘the fact that the Chinese and other nations desire to come and do come is a proof of their capacity for improvement and of their fitness to come.’

“I am proud to work alongside groups like Stop AAPI Hate, the Asian American Scholar Forum, Asian Americans Advancing Justice, and OCA National to protect birthright citizenship, uphold American diversity, and rebuke any and all anti-immigrant hate.”

Across sectors, the hearing has reinforced concerns about how shifts in constitutional interpretation could affect not only immigration policy but also broader civil liberties. As the Court deliberates, advocacy groups are continuing outreach efforts to inform communities, encourage civic participation, and prepare for potential outcomes.

Further updates will be provided as the Court approaches its decision later this summer.

News and Activities for the Communities

1. APA Justice Community Calendar

Upcoming Events:

2026/04/06 APA Justice Monthly Meeting

2026/04/08 Perspectives on Careers in Arts and Entertainment

2026/04/14 Recollections, Pioneers and Heroes - Anla Cheng

2026/05/04 APA Justice Monthly Meeting

2026/05/12-14 Celebrating 250 - Building America’s Future TogetherVisit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details.

2. Iowa Residents Rallied against State Bill HF2513

On March 21, at 4:00 PM local time, over 150 residents from multiple regions in Iowa including Iowa City, Ames and Des Moines gathered at the state capitol to express their deep concern and opposition to HF2513, a bill currently advancing through the Iowa state legislature. The bill has sparked widespread controversy as it seeks to restrict the eligibility of Chinese nationals on H-1B work visas to be employed at Iowa’s public universities.

The event was co-organized by the Iowa City Area Chinese Association (ICACA), the Chinese Faculty and Staff Association of Central Iowa, the Iowa Chinese Association, the Ames Chinese Association, the APAPA Eastern Iowa Chapter, and United Chinese Americans (UCA). The coalition warns that HF2513 invokes "national security" as a pretext for state–sponsored discrimination.

The rally quickly drew the attention of several mainstream Iowa media outlets and has resonated strongly within both the Chinese American community and the broader public. 

·       Iowa Public Radio: University employees protest bill restricting hiring of H-1B workers from adversary nations

·       Local 5 WOI-DT: Rally held in protest of bill that would restrict colleges in hiring people of 'foreign adversaries'

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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.