In Brief
Take Action: Urge Congress to Push for OMB to Withdraw the Proposed Rule
Following the release of the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) proposed rule on Federal Financial Assistance, the scientific community banded together to submit thousands upon thousands of comments opposing the proposal and urging a full withdrawal of the rule.
So, what comes next?
What’s next is Congress. Your Members of Congress are back home through Labor Day. They are hosting election events, town halls, and community get togethers with the upcoming November elections.
We need to make our voices heard in the language that will resonate with officials – federal grant awards are good for the state and local economy, they provide jobs, and they help build a competitive workforce and state infrastructure.
Take Action
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is seeking public comment on a proposal to limit the number of Research Project Grants (RPGs) an investigator may hold simultaneously as a Principal Investigator (PI) or Multi-Principal Investigator (MPI).
NIH is considering a cap of 2, 3, or 4 simultaneous RPGs, arguing that redistributing funding from investigators with multiple awards could support more researchers, strengthen the biomedical workforce, improve project oversight, and increase scientific innovation.
The agency is requesting feedback on the proposed grant limits, implementation strategies, and any potential unintended consequences or policy loopholes. Comments are due by August 3, 2026.
Congress Advances Stopgap Funding Measures as Shutdown Deadline Approaches
With the September 30 government funding deadline looming, Congress is moving quickly to assemble stopgap measures that would keep the federal government operating into the fall. In the Senate, Appropriations Chair Patty Murray (D‑WA) and Vice Chair Susan Collins (R‑ME) have begun bipartisan negotiations on a continuing resolution (CR) aimed at preventing a shutdown. According to sources both senators have agreed to work together to craft a bill that can pass the chamber, even as each party seeks to include its own priorities.
One unresolved issue is whether the Senate CR will include language blocking the Trump administration from finalizing the Office of Management and Budget’s proposed changes to Uniform Guidance. Senator Collins has previously urged OMB Director Russ Vought to pause the regulation, citing concerns about its impact on the federal grant review process. At this time, it remains unclear whether any related provisions will be included in the Senate bill. Senator Collins has indicated that the text of the Senate CR will be released by the end of the week.
Meanwhile, the House has already advanced its own stopgap measure. The House bill would extend fiscal year (FY) 2026 funding levels from the start of FY 2027 on October 1 through December 4. By maintaining current funding, the measure delays final FY 2027 appropriations decisions until after the November 3 midterm elections. The House‑passed CR now moves to the Senate, where it will be considered alongside the emerging Senate proposal.
OSTP Unveils Vision for a “New Golden Age” of U.S. Science
The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) outlined an ambitious plan to reshape the nation’s federally funded research enterprise, releasing its report Science: A New Golden Age on July 21. The document argues that the current system has become “calcified” and calls for sweeping reforms to strengthen U.S. scientific leadership.
The following day, OSTP Director Michael Kratsios appeared before the House Science, Space and Technology Committee to discuss the report’s recommendations. As the sole witness, Kratsios emphasized several core priorities designed to modernize how the federal government supports research and innovation.
Among the report’s central themes is a shift toward empowering individual scientists rather than institutions, with OSTP urging agencies to rethink how grants are structured and awarded. Kratsios highlighted the need for more flexible funding models that can accelerate discovery and reduce administrative barriers.
The report also calls for establishing clear national scientific goals and building the industrial capacity necessary to translate breakthroughs into technological strength. Kratsios noted that this approach would help ensure that U.S. research not only advances knowledge but also drives economic competitiveness and national security.
A major component of the proposed overhaul involves harnessing artificial intelligence across the research ecosystem. OSTP plans to leverage the administration’s Genesis Mission to expand AI’s role in scientific discovery, streamline research processes, and enhance collaboration across disciplines.