Executive Branch News
Trump Administration Rescinds Title VI Regulations for NSF and other Agencies
On August 4, the National Science Foundation (NSF) released a notice of a new rule in the Federal Register to rescind portions of its Title VI regulations, effective immediately. This comes after a series of similar notices across several federal agencies, including the Department of Education in July (see here) and the Department of Commerce in April (see here). These actions are in response to the Trump Administration’s Executive Order, Restoring Equality of Opportunity and Meritocracy from April 2025 which sought to “repeal or amend the implementing regulations for Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 for all agencies to the extent they contemplate…
White House Issues ‘Golden Age of Science’ Report and 2028 Research Priorities
Earlier this month, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) release a report, Science: A New Golden Age. The report calls for a shift in the way research is funded in the U.S. and centers on Trump Administration priorities in emerging areas like AI. OSTP Director Michael Kratsios discussed the report before the House Science, Space and Technology Committee last week (see related article). The report outlines several recommendations, including expanding opportunities for startups, independent research organizations, nonprofits, and industry partners. To encourage more innovative research, the report argues that traditional peer-review systems often favor consensus over high-risk, high-reward ideas. Among…
NCHS Opens Applications for New Director
The National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), the statistical arm of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is currently accepting applications for a new Director. Interested applicants should apply on USA Jobs by July 30. The announcement comes after the previous Director, Dr. Brian Moyer, announced his retirement last year. He was appointed Director of NCHS in March 2020 after serving as the Director of the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) within the Commerce Department (see previous coverage). Dr. Carolyn Greene has been serving as Acting Director since.
Scientific Community Responds in Force to OMB Proposed Rule
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…
The “DOGE” Era Ends
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…
Department of Education Proposes Rule to Eliminate Title VI and Fulbright-Hays Regulations
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…
Resources for Commenting on OMB Proposed Rule
As previously reported, the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued a proposed rule in late May that would make major changes to the Uniform Guidance governing federal financial assistance, including federal research grants. The rule seeks to implement proposals made by the Trump Administration through various executive orders and other actions taken since January 2025, many of great concern to the research community. Public comments are being accepted through July 13. COSSA is holding a members-only webinar on July 1 at 2:00 pm ET to provide guidance to members planning to comment. As of this writing, more than 70,000 public comments have been submitted. Many scientific…
NSF Seeks Comment on Grant Policy Revisions, Due Aug. 24
The National Science Foundation (NSF) is seeking public comment on proposed revisions to its grant policies. The changes are intended to bring NSF’s policy in line with the White House Office of Management and Budget’s sweeping proposed revisions to federal grant regulations released in late May (see related article). The draft would revise grant termination provisions, prohibit charging publication costs to awards, and eliminate references to fixed-price awards. It also clarifies that recovery of indirect costs on NSF awards is subject to the availability of funds, meaning organizations may not be able to recover their full negotiated indirect cost rates if award…
President Trump Executive Actions
Trump Administration Actions (all actions available here): Find COSSA’s full list of Trump’s Executive Actions and more information here or on the Social Science Space Tracker.
More than 8,000 Federal Employees Reclassified
As previously reported, the White House Office of Personnel Management (OPM) finalized a rule in February that expands the use of the excepted service by creating “Schedule Policy/Career,” a new category covering career employees in policy-influencing roles (see previous coverage). While OPM frames the change as a way to improve accountability and responsiveness, critics warn it weakens long-standing civil service protections. On June 3, President Trump signed an executive order officially reclassifying roughly 8,000 federal employees, making it easier for agencies to fire workers in policy-influencing roles. The Administration says the change will improve accountability while preserving merit-based hiring and whistleblower protections. Critics, including labor…
Research Community Organizing Around OMB Proposed Rule
As previously reported, the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued a proposed rule in late May that would make major changes to the Uniform Guidance governing federal financial assistance, including federal research grants. The rule seeks to implement proposals made by the Trump Administration through various executive orders and other actions taken since January 2025. Public comments will be accepted through July 13; public requests that the 45-day comment period be extended have been denied by OMB. As the research community prepares to respond, scientific and higher education groups are providing guidance to help make sense of the more than 400-page proposed…
Register Now: Federal Justice Statistics Program Webinar
On June 25 at 1:00pm EST, the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) will be hosting a Federal Justice Statistics Program Webinar. BJS statisticians will present an in-depth introduction to the Federal Justice Statistics Program. During the webinar, attendees will learn how to: Whether you’re a researcher, policy analyst, criminal justice professional, student, or interested member of the public, this webinar will equip you with valuable tools to navigate federal justice statistics. Register now on the BJS website.
White House Proposes Sweeping Changes to Federal Grant Rules – Comments Due July 13
At the end of May, the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued a proposed rule, Regulation for Federal Financial Assistance, that would make major changes to the Uniform Guidance governing federal financial assistance, including federal research grants. The rule would implement proposals made by the Trump Administration through various executive orders over the last year, including the Improving Oversight of Federal Grantmaking order and Restoring Gold Standard Science order, among others. Among the changes are, but not limited to: Proposed changes to the Uniform Guidance have been anticipated for several months. Still the sweeping nature of the changes, if implemented, would fundamentally alter the…
Register Now: Shaping the Next Era of NIMHD Science Webinar
Registration is now open for The National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD)’s upcoming public webinar Shaping the Next Era of NIMHD Science: Current Status, Emerging Opportunities, and Scientific Priorities. In this public webinar, NIMHD leadership will provide updates on NIMHD’s vision of health disparities science, emerging research opportunities to address health disparities and improve population health, as well as current scientific priorities. Presentations will be followed by a Q&A. Speakers include: The webinar will be taking place on June 22 at 1:00pm EST. Register now via the online form. Send any questions or comments to nimhdinfo@nimhd.nih.gov.
🔦 SPOTLIGHT ON NSF: Scientific Community Fights for NSF
It has been a particularly challenging few months for the National Science Foundation (NSF), between a massive, proposed budget cut, removal of members of the National Science Board (NSB), and the proposal to eliminate the Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences Directorate (SBE). The research community has spent much of the Spring pushing back and urging Congress to defend NSF. Saving the SBE Directorate COSSA along with our many partners across the STEM enterprise have been working tirelessly to urge Congress to reject the President’s proposal to eliminate the SBE Directorate in FY 2027. With House and Senate appropriators currently at work on their FY…
Nominations Open for 2026 NIH Matilda White Riley Honoree
The Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research (OBSSR) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is now accepting nominations for outstanding behavioral and social scientists as Distinguished Lecturer candidates at the 19th Matilda White Riley Honors. The Matilda White Riley Honors are an annual event recognizing transformative work in the fields of social and behavioral science along with early-career researchers. Nominees should have a research career that has “advanced behavioral and social scientific knowledge in areas within NIH’s mission and that expands upon Dr. White Riley’s work.” More information is available on the OBSSR website. Nominee information should be saved…
The State of U.S. Science and Engineering 2026 Released
The National Science Board (NSB) recently released The State of U.S. Science and Engineering 2026 report. Every two years, the NSB prepares this report, which examines the state of U.S. science and engineering over time and within a global context. It summarizes key findings in areas such as education and workforce; U.S. and international research and development performance, including in high-tech industries; and technology transfer, invention and innovation. In the 2026 report, the NSB highlights many key takeaways including: This report, the thematic reports, and the online data tool together make up the full suite of products. You can access them…
Trump Administration Fires National Science Board
On April 24, all 22 members of the National Science Board (NSB) received an email from the Trump Administration stating that they have been “terminated, effective immediately.” The NSB, which was established by statute in 1950, serves as the policymaking and oversight body of the National Science Foundation (NSF) and as an independent advisor to the President and Congress on federal science policy. COSSA issued a statement on the dismissal. White House officials are stating that the decision responds to a 2021 Supreme Court case, U.S. v. Arthrex, that “raised constitutional questions about whether non-Senate confirmed appointees can exercise the authorities that Congress…
NSF to Host Webinar on Funding Opportunities for Research Security Practices
On April 29, the National Science Foundation (NSF) will host a webinar on the different funding opportunities offered across the foundation’s directorates related to research security practices. The following NSF programs will participate: Research on Research Security; Growing Research Access for Nationally Transformative Economic Development; Law & Science; Security and Preparedness; Security, Privacy, and Trust in Cyberspace; Science of Science: Discovery, Communication and Impact; and Cybersecurity Innovation for Cyberinfrastructure. Register here.
NIH Requesting Comments on Strategic Plan
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) released a request for information (RFI) asking for stakeholder comments on the proposed framework for the NIH-Wide Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years (FYs) 2027-2031 slated for an FY 2027 release. Rather than focus on specific research opportunities or institute initiatives, NIH releases a strategic plan every five years to highlight the achievements of the agency and set broader priorities. The proposed framework for the new strategic plan highlights several goals, including improving foundational knowledge of human health and disease, addressing public health challenges across the lifespan, developing and advancing interventions, treatments, and cures, improving infrastructure and…