#374 2/2 Meeting; Equity Pulse; "One Year of Trump"; Angwang Lawsuit; University Rankings+

In This Issue #374

·      2026/02/02 APA Justice Monthly Meeting

·      Frank Wu Leads Off Equity Pulse Webinar Series

·      Science: One Year of Trump

·      Former NYPD Officer Angwang Files Lawsuit

·      NYT: Chinese Universities Surge; U.S. Slips

·      News and Activities for the Communities

2026/02/02 APA Justice Monthly Meeting

The next APA Justice monthly meeting will be held on Monday, February 2, 2026, starting at 1:55 pm ET.

Rep. Judy Chu, Chair Emerita of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, will deliver a New Year of the Fire Horse message and a review of 2025 via video, 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 by and welcome the following confirmed distinguished speakers:

·       Frank Wu, President, Queen’s College, City University of New York

·       Rosie Levine, Executive Director, US-China Education Trust

·       Elizabeth Rao and Attorney Tom Geoghegan, Despres, Schwartz, & Geoghegan, Ltd.  

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.

*****

The deadline for signing the coalition letter by faculty members to support justice & honor the memory of Dr. Jane Ying Wu is January 29, 2026, 12 pm ET.

Effective January 1, 2026, Dr. Steven Pei has stepped down from his role as Co-Organizer of APA Justice. As a result, Dr. Pei no longer represents APA Justice.  Please direct all APA Justice matters to Jeremy Wu and Vincent Wang, Co-Organizers. We thank Dr. Pei for his dedicated service over the past few years and wish him continued success in the future.

Frank Wu Leads Off Equity Pulse Webinar Series

The Equity Pulse is a monthly webinar series hosted by the Committee of 100 that translates the State of Chinese Americans Survey insights into policy-relevant public education. The series focuses on policy issues that disproportionately affect the Chinese American community, emphasizing the chilling effect, indirect consequences of policies framed as race-neutral or national security-driven that produce secondary discrimination and contribute to fear, withdrawal, and diminished belonging.

The first session on February 3, 2026, features Frank Wu 吴华扬, President of Queens College, City University of New York, and Committee of 100 member. He will provide historical context on how similar policy frameworks have produced unequal outcomes over time and how these patterns reemerge under new rationales.

Register to attend: https://bit.ly/45THbX2.

Science: One Year of Trump

On January 22, 2026, Science published a four-part special section examining the effects of Donald Trump’s first year back in the White House on the U.S. research enterprise. Rather than isolated policy shifts, the reporting describes a broad systemic disruption driven by overlapping political, fiscal, and ideological forces whose full consequences are still unfolding.

1. Damage Assessment

One year into Trump’s second term, U.S. science has experienced what many observers characterize as a structural shock. Although Trump’s campaign priorities—shrinking government, expanding executive authority, restricting immigration, and confronting elite universities—did not explicitly target science, their convergence has produced sweeping effects: billions of dollars in frozen or canceled grants, prolonged review delays, elimination of climate- and DEI-related programs, mass departures of federal staff, agency restructuring, and reduced access to federal data. Former NSF director Neal Lane summarized the moment bluntly: “It’s an attack on anything that doesn’t conform to Trump’s political agenda.”

Analysts describe three overlapping drivers. “Muskism,” associated with Elon Musk’s short-lived Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), relied on aggressive and often legally questionable tactics to slash staffing and terminate grants, including at agencies such as USAID. Many actions were later reversed by courts, and even Musk acknowledged limited success. As a result, DOGE is widely viewed as disruptive but unlikely to leave a lasting institutional imprint.

“Voughtism,” by contrast, is seen as far more consequential. Rooted in Project 2025 and advanced by OMB Director Russell Vought, it aims to shrink federal capacity while consolidating power in the executive branch. The central test is spending authority. Trump’s assertion of the right to impound congressionally appropriated funds—partly upheld by a 2025 Supreme Court ruling allowing him to withhold $4 billion in foreign aid—has alarmed research leaders. Former NIH director Elias Zerhouni warned that if impoundment becomes routine, “all bets are off.” Universities are already scaling back hiring, facilities, and graduate programs in response to fiscal uncertainty.

“Trumpism,” the broadest and most unpredictable force, encompasses unilateral executive actions affecting immigration, data access, DEI programs, and political oversight of grantmaking. While many actions rely on executive orders and could be reversed, some changes may endure. DEI infrastructure has largely disappeared from universities, and Trump’s August 2025 order expanding political review of grant awards may set a lasting precedent. His May 2025 “gold standard science” order further polarized the community, with critics warning it undermines trust and supporters arguing it corrects perceived favoritism. Whether these changes prove transient or transformative will depend on institutional resilience, judicial constraints, and whether policymakers articulate a coherent long-term strategy—something critics say remains absent.

2. Pressure on the Pipeline

The disruption has fallen most heavily on the scientific workforce pipeline, particularly early-career researchers. While senior scientists remain relatively insulated, graduate students, postdocs, and junior faculty face canceled grants, funding uncertainty, the rollback of DEI programs, and a more restrictive climate for international scholars. Some are leaving U.S. science altogether. As one chemist told Science, “What we’re more seeing is the toll of the uncertainty.”

Grant freezes, proposed 2026 budget cuts of roughly 40% at NIH and more than 50% at NSF, and efforts to cap indirect cost reimbursements have made long-term planning difficult for universities—even where courts or Congress have intervened. Institutions are pulling back on faculty hiring and graduate admissions rather than risk multi-year commitments they may not be able to sustain. “You have the momentum going, and then the momentum is lost,” said Néstor Carballeira of the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras.

Early data suggest the pipeline is already tightening. Overall graduate enrollment in fall 2025 was flat, but computer science enrollment fell 14%, international graduate enrollment dropped 6%, and faculty hiring declined sharply in fields such as chemistry and biomedical engineering. Cuts to DEI-focused programs and visa restrictions further threaten the future workforce. While some leaders argue this moment could prompt reforms in training for nonacademic careers, many fear the long-term damage to U.S. scientific capacity will only become visible years from now.

3. Talking Back

Trump’s second term has also forced a fundamental rethink of science advocacy. Institutions long reliant on quiet, bipartisan engagement suddenly faced grant terminations, agency upheaval, and threats to university funding. That shift became unmistakable in February 2025, when the Association of American Universities sued the federal government for the first time in its 125-year history, challenging proposed caps on research overhead payments as unlawful and devastating.

Responses diverged. Some universities and societies opted for restraint, fearing retaliation. Others concluded silence was riskier and turned to litigation, grassroots campaigns, advertising, and political donations. Courts quickly became a key battleground, with early rulings blocking indirect-cost caps and releasing billions in frozen funds—reinforcing lawsuits as an effective defense.

Congressional advocacy intensified as well, with science groups reframing their case around national security, economic competitiveness, and public health. New coalitions adopted explicitly “America-first” messaging and funded political action committees to support sympathetic lawmakers. While these efforts blunted some proposed cuts, observers noted a sobering recalibration: outcomes once seen as losses were now celebrated simply for preserving the status quo.

More overtly political strategies also emerged. Graduate student Colette Delawalla founded Stand Up for Science, embracing protests and partisan messaging to confront Trump’s agenda directly. Admirers praise its urgency; critics warn it risks eroding science’s historically bipartisan support. Still, one conclusion is widely shared: quiet diplomacy alone is no longer sufficient. The advocacy landscape has permanently changed.

4. What’s Next

With three years remaining in Trump’s second term, uncertainty continues to hang over U.S. science. Key questions include whether the administration will attempt further impoundment of congressionally approved funds and whether courts will continue to block unilateral actions affecting grants and overhead payments.

Universities remain under pressure from funding disputes, visa restrictions, and political scrutiny, while public health policy—particularly around vaccines and research on marginalized populations—has emerged as a growing flashpoint. Meanwhile, plans to shrink the federal scientific workforce and revise regulations governing environmental protection, pathogen research, international collaboration, and open-access publishing could reshape the research landscape for years to come.

The Science report makes clear that the defining question is no longer whether damage has occurred, but whether U.S. science can adapt quickly enough to preserve its capacity, independence, and global leadership.

Read the Science report: https://bit.ly/49Cru95

Former NYPD Officer Angwang Files Lawsuit

According to the New York Times on January 20, 2026, Baimadajie Angwang 昂旺, a former New York City police officer and U.S. Marine Corps veteran, has filed a federal lawsuit alleging retaliation, discrimination, and malicious prosecution after being fired by the New York Police Department (NYPD) even though federal prosecutors dropped espionage-related charges against him. Prosecutors quietly dismissed the case identified as part of the now-defunct “China Initiative” in January 2023 after reassessing evidence, but the NYPD proceeded with an internal investigation based on the now-dismissed charges and terminated Angwang in January 2024 following his absence from a mandatory disciplinary hearing.

Angwang, an ethnic Tibetan granted political asylum after immigrating to the United States as a teenager, joined the NYPD in 2016 after serving honorably in the Marines, including a deployment to Afghanistan. He was arrested in 2020 on allegations that he acted as an undeclared agent of the Chinese government and spent more than five months detained at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. Prosecutors cited his communications with Chinese consular officials, but Angwang maintains these contacts were routine and necessary for visa-related matters common among Tibetans and other Chinese-born immigrants.

In his lawsuit and public statements, Angwang argues that the investigation and his termination were driven by racial animus and retaliation for speaking out against what he calls an unfounded prosecution. He described the ordeal as a misuse of prosecutorial power that derailed his career and stigmatized him as disloyal to a country he says he loves and has served. The NYPD declined to comment on the lawsuit.

CourtListener: Angwang v. United States Of America (1:26-cv-00478)

Read more about the story of Angwang at the APA Justice website.

NYT: Chinese Universities Surge; U.S. Slips

According to the New York Times on January 15, 2026, there is a significant shift in global university rankings, with Chinese institutions surging ahead in research output while American universities, including prestigious ones like Harvard, are experiencing a relative decline. Harvard, which once dominated global rankings, has dropped to third place in the Leiden Rankings, a system that evaluates universities based on academic publications and citations. Zhejiang University in China now occupies the top spot, with seven other Chinese universities also ranking in the top 10. This marks a stark contrast to the early 2000s when seven American universities were among the top 10, and only one Chinese university made it into the top 25. Despite producing more research than ever before, American universities are being outpaced by the rapid growth in research output from Chinese institutions.

The article attributes this trend to several factors, including China's substantial investment in research and education, as well as its efforts to attract international researchers and students. Chinese universities have focused on publishing in English-language journals, which are more widely read and cited globally, further boosting their rankings. In contrast, American universities are facing challenges such as reduced federal research funding, travel bans, and anti-immigration policies under the Trump administration. These measures have led to a decline in international student enrollment and could potentially harm the prestige and future rankings of U.S. institutions. While Harvard remains at the top of some rankings, such as those for highly-cited scientific publications, the broader trend suggests a shift in global academic dominance.

Despite the decline in research-focused rankings, American universities still perform well in broader ranking systems that consider factors like reputation, finances, and Nobel Prize winners among faculty. For example, Harvard and other U.S. schools continue to hold top spots in rankings by Times Higher Education and the University Ranking by Academic Performance. However, the article warns that the erosion of American supremacy in higher education could have long-term consequences for the nation’s global influence. As China continues to invest heavily in research and education, its universities are becoming increasingly competitive, signaling a new era in the global academic landscape.

Read the New York Times report: https://nyti.ms/4pAv4Ff

News and Activities for the Communities

1. APA Justice Community Calendar

Upcoming Events:2026/01/28 Elliot L. Richardson Prize for Exceptional Public Service

2026/01/29-30 The Jimmy Carter Forum on U.S.-China Relations2026/02/02 APA Justice Monthly Meeting

2026/02/03 The Equity Pulse with Frank Wu

2026/02/11 Conversations, Recollections, Pioneers and Heroes: BD WongVisit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details.

2. January 28, 2026: Gary Locke to be Honored

Elliot L. Richardson Prize for Excellence in Public Service

Wednesday, January 28

Reception 6:00 p.m.

Awards 7:00-9:00 p.m.

Ronald Reagan International Trade Building

1300 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20004

Please join us in celebrating this year’s honorees for their extraordinary public service—an embodiment of the values championed by Elliot Richardson. A beacon of integrity and principled leadership, Richardson was a Fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration and served in four Cabinet-level roles, including Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare; Secretary of Defense; Attorney General; and Secretary of Commerce.

3. AASF: AIX Summit East 2026

Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF) will AIX Summit East 2026 in New York City on April 17, 2026.  This one-day AASF gathering in New York City will provide an exciting and energizing forum to exchange ideas, build partnerships, and define pathways for impact over the next five, ten, and fifty years.

The inaugural AASF AIX Summit East 2026 convenes leaders across academia, industry, government, and the next generation of AI innovators to shape how artificial intelligence will transform—and be transformed by—science, engineering, health, education, and finance. At a moment of profound technological and societal change, the Summit centers collaboration across disciplines, sectors, and generations, bringing together established visionaries and rising stars to move the conversation from what AI can generate to what it can build for the nation.

High school, undergraduate, and graduate students are invited to submit posters showcasing their research and applied work in artificial intelligence and related fields. Selected students will present their project at the summit, compete for poster awards, benefit from small-group mentoring, and receive highly discounted conference registration.

For more information, visit https://bit.ly/4k04TXl

4. In Memoriam: Norman Zalkind

Norman Stanley Zalkind, age 87, passed away on December 20, 2025.  He was a renowned Massachusetts criminal defense lawyer and founding partner of the law firm Zalkind Duncan & Bernstein LLP.  Norman was a long time supporter of the work of APA Justice.  In a touching tribute, Attorney Harvey Silvergate said, "Norman was an extraordinary criminal defense lawyer, particularly with juries. He could, as the saying goes, sell refrigerators to Eskimos.”

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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.