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

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. COSSA released a preliminary analysis for some government agencies on June 18, 2025. This document replaces the June 18 report and provides additional analysis.

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.

Given the ongoing gridlock in Congress, it remains unlikely that FY 2026 appropriations bills will be completed on time (i.e., by October 1). This is especially true this year as the Republican leadership in both chambers prioritize passage of a large tax-cut and reconciliation package (see COSSA’s coverage). 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. You can follow our coverage here. Learn more about the budget request with the recording of our June Headlines Webinar: Diving into the President’s FY 2026 Budget: Implications for Social and Behavioral Science.

In the meantime, we invite you to read on to learn about the President’s proposals as they pertain to social and behavioral science research.