Space & AI Policy
CiviqPulse advocates for space and AI policy because medicine and space are two of the most important frontiers of modern science, and both are increasingly shaped by public policy, funding, and access. Advancing these areas requires public awareness, civic engagement, and advocacy that push for responsible innovation, equitable access, and stronger investment in the future.
Space Exploration
$25.4B
NASA FY 2024 Budget
NASA Budget Office
0.48%
Share of Federal Budget
OMB Historical Tables
$7.9B
NASA Science Division
Planetary Society
Why It Matters
Citizens should care about space exploration funding because it drives scientific and technological advances that often improve life on Earth, including progress in medicine, communication, climate monitoring, and national innovation. Public investment in space is not only about exploration, but about deciding how boldly society chooses to invest in science and the future.
Key Policy Issues
Federal Funding for Space Research
Public funding shapes how much progress can be made in exploration, technology, and scientific discovery.
Access to STEM and Space Education
Space policy should also focus on creating more educational pathways and opportunities for students to enter science and research fields.
International Cooperation and Competition
Space exploration is shaped by both global partnerships and geopolitical competition, which affect research, security, and long-term strategy.
Ethics of Space Expansion
As human activity in space grows, questions about responsibility, sustainability, and who benefits from exploration become more important.
Commercialization of Space
Private companies are playing a larger role in spaceflight, raising policy questions about regulation, accountability, and public versus private interests.
What You Can Do
Follow NASA's budget through the House and Senate Commerce, Justice, Science appropriations process. Contact your representatives and senators to support sustained investment in space research, STEM education, and long-term exploration programs like Artemis. Stay engaged with commercial space policy by following FAA launch and reentry rules, and pay attention to the Artemis Accords, which set principles for peaceful cooperation in civil space exploration.
AI Policy & Governance
$3.3B
Federal Non-Defense AI R&D (FY 2024)
NITRD AI R&D Dashboard
30+
AI-Related Bills Introduced (118th Congress)
Congress.gov
$1.8B
NIST AI Safety Institute (Proposed)
NIST
Why It Matters
Citizens should care about AI governance because AI is already shaping decisions in healthcare, education, public services, and other parts of daily life, which means its risks are public risks too. Major governance concerns include bias, discrimination, privacy, transparency, safety, and accountability. Groups like NIST, OECD, and UNESCO all frame trustworthy oversight as essential to protecting rights and maintaining public trust.
Key Policy Issues
Bias and Discrimination
AI systems can reproduce or amplify existing inequities in healthcare, education, hiring, and public services, so fairness and harmful bias remain a central governance issue.
Data Privacy and Consent
AI depends heavily on data, which raises major questions about how personal information is collected, used, shared, and protected, especially in health-related settings.
Transparency and Accountability
People should know when AI is being used, how decisions are being made, and who is responsible when an AI system causes harm or produces misleading results.
Healthcare AI Safety and Oversight
As AI becomes more common in medical devices and drug development, regulation has to address safety, effectiveness, and whether these tools continue to perform reliably in real-world settings.
Cybersecurity and Misuse
AI policy also has to address how AI systems can be attacked, manipulated, or used to strengthen cyberattacks, making security a core part of AI governance.
What You Can Do
Submit public comments on AI rules and standards. NIST has opened AI-related comment periods, including requests for comments on AI benchmark evaluations and AI agent security. Those comments help shape federal standards and guidance.
Report harmful or deceptive AI use. If an AI product is misleading, discriminatory, or causing consumer harm, file a complaint with the FTC through its complaint system.
Contact elected officials about AI legislation. Call or write your representatives to support stronger protections on AI transparency, privacy, bias, and safety, especially in areas like healthcare and education.
Make Your Voice Heard on These Issues
Use our tool to find your elected officials and tell them where you stand on space exploration and AI policy.
Contact Your Representative