COSSA Releases Part 1 of the President’s FY 2026 Budget Request for Social and Behavioral Science Analysis

On May 3, the Trump Administration released preliminary, high-level details of its fiscal year (FY) 2026 budget request, referred to as a “skinny budget.” On May 30, additional details emerged. Given the delay in this year’s budget release, COSSA is delivering its annual analysis of the President’s budget request in two parts. This first part contains our analysis of the Trump Administration’s FY 2026 funding proposals for the Department of Education, Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, and National Science Foundation. The second part will include details on all remaining agencies important to the social and behavioral science community.

The President’s FY 2026 budget reiterates the Administration’s commitment to “reducing waste” and “improving efficiency” through targeted investments in specific areas and major funding terminations for initiatives that do not align with the President’s policy positions (e.g., DEI). If Congress enacts the President’s proposal, nearly every federal agency would see large cuts to their budgets in FY 2026. However, many of the proposals, such as a 40 percent cut to the National Institutes of Health, are viewed as nonstarters with bipartisan champions in Congress.

When considering an Administration’s budget proposal, it is important to remember that it remains a largely symbolic policy document outlining the Administration’s priorities for the year ahead. While it is possible that some of the President’s requests will be enacted, Congress has the final say over the appropriation of funds. The House and Senate Appropriations Committees have already begun marking up their annual appropriations bills, with the science-related funding bills scheduled for consideration in early July.

Still, given the ongoing gridlock in Congress, it remains unlikely that FY 2026 appropriations bills will be completed on time (i.e., by October 1). FY 2026 is all but guaranteed to begin under a continuing resolution (CR) come October 1. 

COSSA will continue to report on the progress of FY 2026 funding legislation in the weeks and months ahead. In the meantime, we invite you to read our analysis to learn about the President’s proposals as they pertain to social and behavioral science research.