FY2027 appropriations remain unsettled
FY2027 appropriations continues to percolate as Congress moves toward the end of the fiscal year. Thanks to a surge of activity in June, the House Appropriations Committee has approved all twelve of its FY2027 appropriations bills, while appropriations have largely stalled in the Senate, which has not yet published a single FY2027 appropriations bill. A bill must pass the full House and the full Senate and be signed by the President to become law, a process that is unlikely to be completed before the end of FY2026 on September 30. Research agencies continue to be behind schedule in spending, although some agencies have indicated they intend to surge spending as the end of the fiscal year approaches. AAAS is tracking research and development accounts in its FY2027 appropriations dashboard here and all FY2027 appropriations bills are posted here as they become available.
Update on OMB proposed federal grant rulemaking
The White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) draft revisions to federal financial assistance rules (see the June 2026 Federal Pulse) are drawing attention from Congress. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, has asked OMB to withdraw portions of the proposal and extend the comment period. Democrats are urging OMB to fully rescind the proposed rule: House Democrats made the case during a June 30 hearing with OMB Director Russ Vought and every Senate Democrat signed a letter to OMB making the same request. Meanwhile, Senator Jim Banks (R-IN) is leading Members of Congress in expressing support to OMB for the proposed changes. So far, OMB has declined to rescind the proposed rule and has rebuffed requests to extend the public comment deadline, which remains July 13.
Analyses of the proposed rule continue to unfold. There are now concerns about broad restrictions affecting international research as well as concerns about the ability of the public to challenge research they don’t agree with. As affected individuals, organizations, and policy and legal experts continue to work through the proposed rule and play out various scenarios, expect more analyses highlighting different aspects of the consequences and implications of these proposed changes.
Comment periods are open for proposed grantmaking changes at NIH and NSF
NIH and NSF each have open comment opportunities that are especially relevant for research administrators who work directly with proposal and award policy. NIH is seeking input on a proposed policy to limit the number of simultaneous Research Project Grants on which an individual may serve as PI or MPI. NSF is seeking comment on proposed changes to its proposal and award guidance, including a new format intended to replace the NSF Proposal and Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) with a new NSF Guidance on Financial Assistance. These agency-specific processes are separate from the OMB Uniform Guidance rulemaking, but together they point to a broader period of change in federal grantmaking policy. Read the NIH notice here (responses due August 3), the NSF Federal Register notice here (responses due August 24), and the proposed NSF text here.
Relevant Articles & Resources
ARPA-H 101: Understanding Proposal Evaluation Criteria
ARPA-H explains how it evaluates solution summaries and proposals, including scientific and technical merit, mission alignment, team capabilities, and cost alignment. This is a useful plain-language resource for understanding how mission-oriented agencies assess whether a proposed project fits their goals.
Inside the New Political Screening That’s Stalling NIH Grants
Nature reports on additional administrative review and keyword screening affecting some NIH grant applications. The article also links to a list of terms reportedly flagged in proposal reviews. This is useful context for understanding why some awards may be delayed or subject to additional review.
NEH Award Reinstatement Instructions
The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) released guidelines for seeking reinstatement of NEH awards terminated in April 2025, per recent court rulings.
A Tale of Two Funding Charts
Grant Witness explains why award counts, obligation pace, and award size can tell different stories about NSF grantmaking. This is a helpful resource for interpreting agency funding data during a period when research organizations are watching NSF activity closely.
House Science Republicans Examine Grant Fraud
AIP FYI summarizes a House Science, Space, and Technology Committee hearing on grant fraud, oversight, and NSF grantmaking pace. The hearing is part of the broader oversight environment affecting federal research agencies.
NSF Slashes Research Programs to Support New Tech Initiative
Science reports on internal NSF funding shifts and the proposed X-Labs initiative. Read alongside this month’s Federal Pulse feature article, the story illustrates why the mechanics of appropriations accounts, reprogramming, and transferring funds matter to the research community.
Podcast from U.S. Department of War on Science and Technology Engagement
The U.S. Department of War’s SciTech Connect resource provides training relevant to federal science and technology engagement, including how to understand and navigate access points in the federal research and policy ecosystem. This is the page for their podcast called Access Granted.
Higher Education Litigation Summary: June 2026
Thompson Coburn’s June litigation roundup summarizes recent federal court activity affecting higher education, federal grants, research funding, and related compliance issues.
COGR June 2026 Meeting Slide Presentations & Session Recordings
COGR has posted slides and recordings from its June 2026 meeting, including sessions relevant to federal research policy, compliance, and research administration practice.
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