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
Independent Census Scientific Advisory Committee to Meet
On September 18, the Independent Census Scientific Advisory Committee (I-CSAC), of which COSSA Board Member Sara Curran from the University of Washington is a member, is set to meet for the first time. I-CSAC, which was founded following the unprecedented termination of the Census Scientific Advisory Committee, is accepting public comments that will be shared during the meeting (see COSSA sign-on letter opposing the termination of the committee). Comments can be submitted to CensusScientific@gmail.com until September 17 at noon ET. The agenda can be viewed here and the meeting will broadcasted live to the public here.
NASEM Releases Report on Simplifying Research Regulations and Policies
The Board on Higher Education and Workforce (BHEW) of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) has released a report, Simplifying Research Regulations and Policies: Optimizing American Science. The report praises the success of the U.S. scientific research enterprise while acknowledging that, as science has become more applicable and useful across varying disciplines, there has been a dramatic increase in federal oversight. It cites estimates that U.S. academic researchers today spend more than 40 percent of their research time on administrative and regulatory compliance. While federal regulations on scientific work can ensure research excellence, the current regulatory system can hinder…
Register for AERAâs 22nd Annual Brown Lecture in Education Research
On October 23, the American Educational Research Association (AERA) will host the 22nd Annual Brown Lecture in Education Research. The annual lecture aims to illuminate the important role of research in advancing understanding of equality and equity in education. The 2025 lecture is titled, âRethinking Brown When Diversity and Equity are Imperiled and Democracy Is Fragile” and will be delivered by James A. Banks, the Kerry and Linda Killinger Endowed Chair in Diversity Studies Emeritus and founding director of the Center for Multicultural Education (now the Banks Center for Educational Justice) at the University of Washington. AERA is a COSSA governing member organization. Register…
CASBS Accepting Applications for 2026-27 Fellowship
The Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences (CASBS) at Stanford University is now accepting applications for residential fellowships for the 2026-27 academic year. Applicants should be scholars and thinkers who are tackling big questions with fresh approaches. CASBS especially appreciate scholars who value discussion across fields, unencumbered by disciplinary boundaries. An academic year at the Center provides fellows freedom to work on consequential projects, a location that affords them access to research and colleagues at Stanford and Silicon Valley, and a collaborative environment that encourages fellows to broaden their perspectives. The Center encourages those from diverse backgrounds, institutions, and countries…
NEW ACTION ALERTS: Prioritize Science Funding and Oppose the So-Called Equal Representation Act
Two new Action Alerts have been published in the COSSA Action Center: Urge Congress to Prioritize Science Funding! Over the past few months, Congressional appropriators have been drafting key legislation that will determine funding for federal science and statistical agencies for the next year. With the proposed massive budget and staffing cuts in the Presidential Budget Request, the stakes have never been higher. While Congress is likely to pass another year-long continuing resolution (CR), it is essential that our community fights for federal science funding and the scientific workforce. Now is the time to ACT! Write to your Members of Congress urging their support for…
COSSA Releases 2024 Annual Report
COSSAâs 2024 Annual Report is now available. Check it out to learn more about COSSAâs activities and successes over the past year. Find out how your organization can become a member of COSSA on our website.
Congress Returns from August Recess; House to Consider LHHS Bill
Congress has returned from their August recess prepared to tackle appropriations as the end of the fiscal year (FY) rapidly approaches. As previously reported by COSSA, both the House and the Senate have released their Commerce, Justice, and Science (CJS) Appropriations bills but only the Senate has released their Labor, Health and Human Services, Education (LHHS) bill before leaving for the break (see COSSAâs analyses here). While itâs unlikely theyâll manage to finalize any of their bills before the end of the fiscal year on September 30, the House LHHS Appropriations subcommittee plans to mark up their version of the LHHS bill later…
Latest from the White House (September 2)
Executive Order Seeks to Mandate Political Review of Grant Awards On August 7, the White House issued an Executive Order (EO) on Improving Oversight of Federal Grantmaking. This is a sweeping order that seeks to place several new requirements on federal grantmaking agencies, including science agencies. The EO states, âEvery tax dollar the Government spends should improve American lives or advance American interests. This often does not happen.â It continues, ââŠthe best proposals do not always receive funding, and there is too much unfocused research of marginal social utility.â [emphasis added] In response, the EO calls for each federal grantmaking agency to create…
NIH Grant Terminations Upheld, For Now
On August 21, the Supreme Court ruled that the Trump Administration can once again terminate grants funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). A district court overturned the original terminations in June as part of a lawsuit brought by higher education and public health associations and 16 states; however, the Supreme Court found that the district court does not have jurisdiction over the terminations. Instead, the ruling states that plaintiffs must file suit in Federal Claims court in order to receive a final decision. A similar ruling was issued in August related to grants terminated by the National Science Foundation (NSF). While the ruling leaves federal funding…
CDC Director Fired After Clash with HHS Secretary Kennedy Over Vaccines
On August 28, Director Susan Monarez was fired by the Trump Administration. Monarez, who was confirmed to the role in July after serving as Acting Director since January, came under scrutiny by Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (see previous COSSA coverage). The New York Times reported that she clashed with Secretary Kennedy over vaccine policy, and her removal was later confirmed by the agency in a social media post. At least three other CDC officials have resigned following her termination. A statement published on Twitter by Monarezâs lawyers claimed the dismissal was illegal and politically motivated, stating: âFirst it was independent advisory…
ICYMI: Trump Nominates E.J. Antoni for BLS Commissioner
President Trump has nominated E.J. Antoni to lead the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) after abruptly firing and baselessly accusing Commissioner Erika McEntarfer of deliberately reporting false numbers in the latest Employment Situation report (see previous COSSA coverage). Antoni comes from the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, where he served as a Chief Economist and contributed to Project 2025. He holds a masterâs and PhD in economics from Northern Illinois University. The Senate Health, Education, and Labor and Pensions Committee (HELP) is rumored to hold a confirmation hearing for Antoni sometime this month. While the role does require Senate confirmation, itâs…
PAA to Host Congressional Briefing on “U.S. Birth Rate Trends: Patterns, Drivers, and Implications for American Families”
On October 8, the Population Association of America (PAA) will host a congressional briefing on “U.S. Birth Rate Trends: Patterns, Drivers, and Implications for American Families.” The event will feature a discussion on national and international birth rate trends and evidence on the effects of policy incentives, such as tax credits and paid family leave, in impacting an individualâs decision to start a family. The discussion is particularly timely given the Trump Administrationâs interest in encouraging higher birth rates nationwide. Speakers will include: PAA is a COSSA governing member organization. RSVP to secure your spot!
July Headlines Webinar Recording Now Available
On July 28, COSSA hosted the recent installment in the 2025 Headlines Webinar series. July’s meeting featured a discussion with research policy experts from COGR on topics like indirect costs, research compliance, and other timely developments impacting the social and behavioral science community. Featured speakers: The recording is now available on the COSSA website. Headlines is a webinar series available to COSSA member organizations. Watch for additional webinar announcements, and previous webinar recordings, on the COSSA website.
Meet COSSAâs Policy Intern: Eva Lettiere
Eva Lettiere started as COSSAâs policy intern in May. Before she signs off, she provided some reflections from her time at COSSA. How did you learn about COSSA and the opportunity to serve as a policy intern? I learned about COSSA through the director of career services at the University of Chicago, who sent me some summer internship opportunities she thought I might be interested in. Out of all of them, COSSA was the only one that truly captured my interest. I loved that the application process gave me the chance to talk about my experiences with social science research and…
Senate Releases Spending Bills, Republican Senators Push Back Against NIH Funding Delays
Before departing for August Recess, the Senate advanced several bills through the Appropriations Committee, including the Commerce, Justice, and Science (CJS) bill, and Labor, Health and Human Services, Education (LHHS) bill (previous COSSA coverage). Both the Senate CJS and LHHS bills included relatively flat funding levels, rejecting the draconian cuts proposed by the Trump Administration earlier this year (see COSSAâs analysis). Notably, on July 31, the Senate Appropriations Committee held a mark-up for the LHHS bill in which several amendments were offered, including Senator Dick Durbinâs (D-IL) call for the Trump Administration to restore all grants that had been terminated. The…
Latest from the White House (August 5)
Temporary Pause in NIH Funding Released After Chaotic Few Hours On July 29, the Washington Post reported on a temporary pause on the release of National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding, which was later lifted (see related article above). In a budget document authored by the White House Office of Management and Budget to NIH, the agency was given its âfull-year apportionmentâ of funding for fiscal year (FY) 2025âwhich ends September 30. However, the document included a footnote that appeared to limit how the money could be spent, including on research grants. Democratic lawmakers were quick to respond, with statements issued by Sen….
Trump Fires BLS Commissioner After Accusing Her of Falsifying Data
On August 1, President Trump abruptly fired the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Commissioner Erika McEntarfer after baselessly accusing her of deliberately reporting false numbers in the Employment Situation report released that morning. The White House released an accompanying statement in which the Administration accused McEntarfer of having a âlengthy history of inaccuraciesâ that harmed the publicâs trust in the agency. This unprecedented removal of a Congressionally-approved agency head greatly undermines the credibility of the federal economic statistical enterprise, which has been the gold standard for U.S. labor data collection for almost 150 years. COSSA joins the Friends of the Bureau of…
Federal Employees Continue to Speak Up
Last month, employees from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and NASA were the latest to publicly express concern about the Trump Administrationâs actions at their respective agencies. In a July 21 letter to House Science Committee Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), NSF employees under the American Federation of Government Employees Local 3403 outlined eight âcategories of harmâ being inflicted by the Trump Administration, including staff and grant terminations, massive budget cuts, and the unannounced move from the NSF headquarters in Alexandria, VA. The letter asks the Science Committee to: (1) shield NSF employees from âpolitically motivatedâ firings; (2) end the illegal impoundment of appropriated…