A staple since COSSAâs earliest days, the biweekly COSSA Washington Update newsletter provides members and the public with comprehensive coverage of policy developments impacting social and behavioral science research.Â
House Advances LHHS Bill, Senate Delays Markups
On June 5, the House Appropriations Committee released the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (LHHS) appropriations bill for fiscal year (FY) 2027. The bill was advanced out of the committee in a 34 to 28 vote along party lines. Earlier this year, the Presidentâs request called for sweeping cuts to the federal agencies that fund social and behavioral science research (see analysis). While the House bill still includes cuts to several agencies, the House has largely rejected the deep cuts proposed by the Trump Administration. Notably, exceptions include several programs housed under the Department of Education,…
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 âSchedule Policy/Career,â 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.
NASEM Hosts Third Annual State of the Science Address
On June 2, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) hosted the State of the Science Address, an annual review of the status of the U.S.âs research enterprise, science innovation, and global science leadership (see previous coverage). During her address, NASEM President Marcia McNutt reiterated a concern from her 2025 addressâthat the U.S. scientific research enterprise is weakening as American and international researchers pursue research opportunities outside of the U.S. McNutt discussed the Office of Management and Budgetâs (OMB) recently proposed rule titled Regulation for Federal Financial Assistance (see COSSAâs coverage here). McNutt raised concerns that this rule would take…
Remembering Ken Prewitt
Earlier this month the COSSA community lost one of its most stalwart champions and dedicated public servants, Dr. Kennith Prewitt. Kenâs connections with COSSA run deep, having served numerous positions at COSSA member universities, as director of NORC at the University of Chicago, president of the Social Science Research Council (SSRC), and president of the American Academy of Political and Social Science (AAPSS). He was nominated by President Bill Clinton to serve as Director of the Census Bureau (1998-2001). During his time at SSRC in the early 1980s, Ken was responsible for assisting with the launch of COSSA. He later…
COSSA Welcomes the University of Oregon as its Newest Member
COSSA is thrilled to welcome the University of Oregon as its newest member! UO is a leading public research institution and currently ranks 26th on COSSAâs annual list of top universities competing for federal social and behavioral science research funding. COSSAâs full membership list can be found here. Information on how to join is on the COSSA website.
2027 LSA Awards Nominations are Open
The Lingustic Society of America (LSA), a COSSA member organization, announced that they are now accepting nominations for several of their annual awards. Each year, LSA recognizes a wide range of contributions to the discipline of linguistics through the bestowal of awards. Learn about a specific award, the nomination and selection process, view a list of past winners, and submit a nomination on the LSA awards webpage. Deadline for a majoirty of the awards is June 30, 2026.
White House Proposes Sweeping Changes to Federal Grant Rules â 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: COSSA Town Hall: Updates on Efforts to Save SBE & Other NSF Issues
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). Along with our many partners across the STEM enterprise, COSSA has been working tirelessly to urge Congress to reject the Presidentâs proposal to eliminate the SBE Directorate in FY 2027. We have also been engaging on the many other challenges currently confronting NSF. On June 4, join us for the next Town Hall meeting to hear the latest on the…
Congress to Review Appropriations Bills Ahead of Midterm Elections
As previously reported, Congress has officially turned to its work on the fiscal year (FY) 2027 appropriations bills. The House Appropriations Committee has already advanced 7 of the 12 spending bills out of committee, including the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) bill (see analysis). The House has kept to the schedule they released in April, and is on track to mark up the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (LHHS) bill later this week on June 5 (watch live here). On the other side of the Hill, the Senate has started working on their respective bills and…
Battacharya Defends NIH Budget to Senate Appropriators
On May 21, Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) defended the NIH fiscal year (FY) 2027 budget request before the Senate Labor, Health, and Human Services, Education (LHHS) Appropriations Subcommittee. During the hearing, Bhattacharya fielded concerns from both sides of the aisle about the Trump Administrationâs proposed 12 percent cut to the agency (see analysis). In her opening remarks, Chair Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) voiced her support for NIH-funded research, and highlighted the importance of cancer research and supporting rural communities. When remarks turned to Ranking Member Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), the Senator pressed the Director…
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)âs 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 NIMHDâs 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.
COSSA’s Analysis of the FY 2027 House CJS Appropriations Bill for Federal Science Agencies
The House Appropriations Committee has begun consideration of its fiscal year (FY) 2027 appropriations bills. The Committee is working to approve all 12 funding bills by the end of June. On May 13, the Appropriations Committee reported out the FY 2027 Commerce, Justice, Science (CJS) Appropriations Bill, which includes funding proposals for the National Science Foundation (NSF), Census Bureau, National Institute of Justice (NIJ), Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS), and other agencies. ï»żAs we saw last year, the FY 2027 House CJS bill includes cuts to federal science agencies but does not go as far as the Presidentâs budget request,…
Action Alert Reminder: Tell Congress to Save NSF’s Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences Directorate!
In early April, the Trump Administration released its budget request for fiscal year (FY) 2027. In it, the Administration states its intent to dismantle the National Science Foundationâs (NSF) Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences (SBE) Directorate in FY 2027. The SBE Directorate is responsible for nearly two-thirds of funding for academic research in the social and behavioral sciences in the U.S. However, even more concerning are reports that NSF leadership may be taking steps to begin dismantling the Directorate this year. In response to this news, COSSA immediately issued an action alert that has resulted in more than 2,000 letters being sent…
Congress Turns to Appropriations After Returning from May Recess
Following a week-long May recess, Congress has turned their attention toward the fiscal year (FY) 2027 appropriations process. As previously reported, the House has set their schedule for advancing their appropriations bills through May and June. On May 13, the House Appropriations Committee reported out the Commerce, Justice, and Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) budget billâwhich includes funding proposals for the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Census Bureau, and more (see related article). The Committee is also scheduled to review the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (LHHS) budget billâwhich includes funding proposals for the National Institutes of…
đŠÂ 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 Presidentâs 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 âadvanced behavioral and social scientific knowledge in areas within NIHâs mission and that expands upon Dr. White Rileyâs work.â More information is available on the OBSSR website. Nominee information should be saved…