Issue 14 (July 14)

Our Why Social Science? posts are now sortable by topic. You can find the menus on the COSSA website or on the Why Social Science? archive.

Use the categories to find real world examples of how the social and behavioral sciences improve our lives. We hope this can help you in your advocacy efforts.

As previously reported, consideration of the fiscal year (FY) 2027 appropriations bills slowed as Congress left Washington for a two-week July 4th recess. While the House managed to advance all twelve of its bills through committee, the Senate has repeatedly delayed their consideration of several bills, including the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) appropriations bill that funds the National Science Foundation. Complicating things further, Senate Republicans’ dwindling majority worsened following the unexpected death of Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and the continued hospitalization of Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY). While the Senate Republicans had reportedly drafted their bills without the input or support of the Senate Democrats, it is unclear if they have the support they need to advance their more controversial appropriations bills out of committee—including the CJS and Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education (LHHS) bills. With only a few weeks left until August recess and the end of the fiscal year quickly approaching on September 30, Congress will soon need to turn to a continuing resolution (CR) to fund the federal government if they’re unable to pass any final legislation in the upcoming weeks.

Stay tuned for COSSA’s continued coverage of the FY 2027 appropriations process.

On June 30, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government held an oversight hearing on the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) with testimony from Director Russell Vought.

During the hearing, several House Republicans, including Chairman David Joyce (R-OH), questioned Vought on OMB’s budget; and Vought praised the Administration’s efforts to end “fiscal futility.” Ranking Member Steny Hoyer (D-MD) Representative Glenn Ivey (D-MD) also expressed disappointment that the Committee did not hold a budget hearing before voting on the appropriations bills (see previous coverage).

The line of questioning quickly turned to unreleased fiscal year (FY) 2026 appropriated funds and OMB’s proposed rule on federal grant making (see previous coverage). Several House Democrats, including Ranking Member Hoyer and Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), claimed that OMB is withholding appropriated funds from researchers and scientists. When pressed on the release of appropriated funds, Vought evaded answering and claimed that OMB was working “expeditiously” to ensure grants were fully funded before the end of the fiscal year.

Appropriations Committee Ranking Member, Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) raised concerns about OMB’s “unprecedented” control over taxpayer dollars and disregard of Congressional directives. Further, Ranking Member DeLauro lamented the recently proposed rule from OMB on federal grants (see previous coverage), expressing concern that the proposed rule would “subject virtually all federal funding to the whims of the president’s policy priorities.”

Notably, Representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA) asked Vought if he was directing agencies, such as the National Science Foundation (NSF), to pre-comply with OMB’s proposed rule to “overhaul grants procedure.” Vought denied that agencies were pre-complying and argued that they were lawfully following an Executive Order from last August, Improving Oversight of Federal Grantmaking (see previous coverage).

Rep. DeLauro also asked about the proposed rule, requesting to extend the comment period by 45 days; however, Vought said OMB would not be extending the comment period. Rep. DeLauro then shifted her line of questions to how the rule may negatively impact the grant review process. She also requested that Vought release a list of criteria that will be used to judge and determine whether grants are awarded or canceled.

Later, Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez raised concerns about OMB’s development of an artificial intelligence (AI) tool to “flag grants that are misaligned with the administration’s agenda.” Vought confirmed that such a tool is being developed during the hearing. When questioned further about the potential negative impacts and ethicality of an AI tool reviewing grants, Vought stated that it would not “take the place of agency officials.” He also claimed that the tool had not yet flagged any grants as inconsistent with the Administration’s priorities, stating that “agency officials that would be making these determinations based on the instructions given to them in the executive order,” not AI tools alone.

A recording of the hearing can be found here. Stay tuned for COSSA’s continued coverage on the federal grant making process.

This article was contributed by COSSA Intern Caroline Seo.

More than 340,000 public comments have been submitted in response to the proposed rule, Regulation for Federal Financial Assistance, that seeks to make major changes to the Uniform Guidance governing federal financial assistance, including federal research grants. The deadline for comments was July 13. Organizations and individuals used their comments to register deep concerns about the proposed changes and their potential impacts on the U.S. research enterprise and our diminishing global competitiveness. COSSA’s comments, which have not yet been posted officially to regulations.gov, is available here.

According to the proposed rule, the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) set an implementation date of October 1, 2026, leaving just a few months for staff to review all submitted public comment and issue a final rule. However, Democrats in both the House and Senate have come out in strong opposition to the rule, calling on OMB to withdraw it in its entirety. Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Susan Collins (R-ME) has also recently expressed concern with the rule and asked OMB to extend the comment period by 90 days. 

The so-called “Department of Government Efficiency” or DOGE, which was created by executive order on President Trump’s first day in office, was officially dismantled on July 4 in accordance with the termination date set in the executive order. DOGE, previously led by Elon Musk, is responsible for much of the upheaval felt by federal agencies and the research community over the last year and half, including mass federal worker layoffs and grant terminations. The entity, which was originally tasked with finding $2 trillion in government savings, most recently claimed to have reduced federal spending by $215 billion. However, in a recent hearing before a House Appropriations Subcommittee, White House Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought stated that the Administration has no plans to compile a final report or assessment of DOGE’s activities. Further, the doge.gov website has been effectively shut down, no longer posting information on achieved savings. 

On July 1, the Department of Education issued a proposed rule, International Education Programs and Fulbright-Hays Program; Recission of Regulations, that would rescind federal regulations related to the administration of these programs. The proposal states that rescinding the regulations would grant the Department “greater flexibility” in their implementation and execution of the programs and allow them to “align such programs with current and evolving priorities and needs.” Notably, the Title VI and Fulbright-Hays programs have been repeatedly proposed for elimination by the Trump Administration and the House in recent budget requests and appropriations bills.

Public comments are due July 31.

Stay tuned for COSSA’s continued coverage of the Department of Education.

On July 1, Neil Shubin began his tenure as president of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) and Monica Bertagnolli as president of National Academy of Medicine (NAM). Prior to his appointment, Shubin led a molecular biology and paleontology research laboratory at the University of Chicago.

Bertagnolli previously served as the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Director of the National Cancer Institute under the Biden Administration. Notably, Bertagnolli is the first woman to serve as President of NAM. 

This article was contributed by COSSA Intern Caroline Seo.