Congress rejects cuts to science funding

To kick off the new year, Congress agreed to a “minibus” spending package that rejects the Administration’s draconian cuts to federal science funding. The package includes several key science agencies, with only slight reductions for NSF, NASA, USGS, and NOAA, and modest increases for the DOE Office of Science and NIST. While these numbers might ordinarily disappoint the research community, the bill has garnered broad support as it averts the steep cuts initially proposed by the President—as well as the smaller, but still substantial, reductions advanced by the House. Notably, the bill includes a provision requesting an update from OSTP on the status of the Nelson memo.

Some agencies, including NSF, have paused awarding new grants pending final passage of the bill. Once it’s signed by the President, funding is expected to resume, allowing grants to start flowing again.

Looking ahead, Congress must now tackle more contentious funding bills, including those for NIH (as part of the Labor-HHS bill) and the Department of Homeland Security (which includes immigration enforcement). Without new legislation, funding for these agencies will expire at the end of the month. The Labor-HHS bill also includes report language concerning NIH’s proposed publication expense cap policy.