Federation of American Scientists

Federation of American Scientists (FAS) is an independent, nonpartisan science and technology policy organization founded in November 1945 by scientists and engineers emerging from Manhattan Project work. Across its history, FAS has focused on applying technical expertise to public decision-making—initially centered on atomic energy governance and the risks of nuclear weapons—and later broadened to address a wider set of “global risk” challenges and science-and-innovation policy problems. Today, FAS frames its mission around minimizing risks from nuclear weapons, biological and chemical threats, climate change, and other global catastrophes, while also working to ensure scientific and technical expertise has a seat at the policymaking table. FAS’s current operating model emphasizes policy entrepreneurship and practical “implementation” pathways, combining analysis, convenings, and policy products with programs designed to connect scientific talent to government decision-making (including fellowships and a talent-placement model). In 2025, FAS also highlighted an expansion intended to better serve state and local governments via partnerships with cities, universities, and communities.

Operationally, FAS runs named initiatives that map to distinct parts of the science-policy pipeline. Examples include the Nuclear Information Project (linked to nuclear information and related public resources), the Center for Regulatory Ingenuity (a governance/implementation-oriented hub), and the Data Policy Institute (focused on federal data access and dataset change monitoring). On the talent side, programs such as the Day One Project and Talent Hub are positioned to translate policy ideas and emerging technical expertise into real-world government action. FAS’s recent strategic posture also shows emphasis on labor/organizational capacity and institutional change (including the announcement of its first collective bargaining agreement), alongside expansion of new policy domains (such as data policy) and institution-building through partnerships with organizations like Future of Life Institute and ICLEI USA.