In Brief
Take Action: Congress to Begin NIH Budget Markup; Protect Science Research Funding
Work is already underway for fiscal year (FY) 2027 federal appropriations requests and BPS needs your support to advocate for the highest funding levels possible for the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
While Congress resoundingly rejected the drastic cuts proposed in the 2026 President’s Budget Request, speculation persists that the scientific community could again be subjected to similar cost-cutting proposals for FY27.
It is imperative that Congress put forward a robust, predictable federal budget for the largest funder of scientific research – the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Take Action Now!
Congress Demands Answers Following Dismissal of NSF Governing Board
Congressional criticism of the mass termination of the National Science Board continues to escalate. In letters sent mid-May to the White House and NSF leadership, Senate and House Democrats argued the unprecedented dismissal threatens the independence and continuity of U.S. scientific research oversight. The NSB oversees NSF’s $9 billion budget, advises on agency policy, and reviews major research projects.
A Senate letter led by Sens. Ed Markey (D-MA) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA) requested the legal justification for the firings, clarification on who will approve major NSF expenditures in the absence of the board, and details on whether new appointments are planned. House Democrats, led by Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), called for the reinstatement of the dismissed board members.
The White House defended the move, citing constitutional concerns tied to a 2021 Supreme Court ruling, United States v. Arthrex, Inc., and said the administration intends to work with Congress to revise the law governing the NSB. These dismissals come amid broader turbulence at NSF, including staffing reductions, proposed budget cuts, and delays in awarding new research grants.
House Republicans Reject Deepest Proposed NSF Cuts; Major Reductions Remain
House appropriators are moving to soften some of the Administration’s proposed reductions to federal science agencies for fiscal year 2027, though the National Science Foundation (NSF) would still face one of its largest budget cuts in decades under the current draft spending bill.
The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies released legislation proposing an NSF budget of $7 billion for FY2027, a roughly 20% reduction from the agency’s current $8.75 billion appropriation. While substantially higher than the President’s Budget Request (PBR) of $4 billion, the proposal would still significantly reduce federal support for basic research, STEM education, and scientific infrastructure programs nationwide.
The House proposal signals continued bipartisan resistance in Congress to the steepest reductions sought by the White House for civilian research agencies. Science saw similar dynamics played out for FY26, when Senate lawmakers ultimately restored funding above initial House and administration proposals.
Even with the comparatively higher House funding level, NSF would likely face substantial operational pressure. The agency has already been navigating slower award distributions and tighter spending controls as the administration seeks to constrain overall federal research expenditures. The spending legislation is expected to advance through the House appropriations process in the coming weeks, with additional program-level details and congressional directives expected before full committee consideration.
NIAID Loses Another Director as Taubenberger Steps Down
Jeffery Taubenberger, an influenza researcher named last year as acting director of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), has “stepped down from his position,” Senator Tammy Baldwin (D–WI) revealed at a Senate hearing on the budget for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The departure comes amid a broad leadership shake-up at NIAID, which has continued to face attacks since the departure of former Director Anthony Fauci.
The announcement came as a surprise; as his departure had not been announced previously and it remains unclear when Taubenberger was officially separated from the agency. When question about the departure of so many senior NIH officials, NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya replied that NIAID, which has a $6.6 billion budget and is NIH’s second largest institute, was moving away from biodefense work to prioritize “conditions that people actually have and that shift means that we need some new leadership. Murray warned that the tumult at NIAID will have reverberations.