US Science Funding Delayed Despite Congress Rejecting Cuts

According to reporting by Nature, federal science agencies continue to experience delays in receiving the okay to start spending their fiscal year (FY) 2026 appropriations from Congress. As previously reported, Congress completed its work on FY 2026 appropriations for most federal science agencies earlier this year. However, the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has been slow to approve agency spending plans, which are required to be delivered to OMB within 30 days of enactment of the appropriations bills. Traditionally, agencies had authority to start spending portions of their appropriations immediately and continuing in monthly increments until its spending plan is approved by OMB. However, OMB changed the policy last year to restrict use of these monthly allotments for “essential expenses,” such as salaries.

Because of the delays, Nature reports that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has issued only about 30 percent of the research grants it typically would by this point in the fiscal year, while the National Science Foundation (NSF) has issued about 20 percent.

Congressional Democrats have objected OMB’s actions, asserting the Administration must release the funds as required by law or risk further disruption to U.S. research.