The Nelson Memo — It’s Done

FUBAR. SNAFU. SSDD. PITA. There are a lot of great little acronyms.

Not to be confused with “Order of the British Empire,” “OBE” is one of the more mild and pedestrian acronyms. It stands for “overtaken by events.”

OBE comes to mind when plans are swept aside after something has suddenly and unexpectedly happened.

The Nelson Memo has been buffeted by headwinds since it was issued. It was obvious to anyone familiar with office politics that Alondra Nelson was out over her skis when she issued the memo while in an “acting” role as her Senate-approved boss was just weeks away from taking over. Since then, Nelson has left OSTP, her boss has shown no interest in even speaking about the Nelson Memo, and Congress has been antagonistic.

Now, with the election of Donald Trump, the prospects for the Nelson Memo changing anything have gone out the window.

OBE.