A Fast-Approaching Deadline
Congress faces a fast-approaching deadline. Unless lawmakers can agree on either a full FY26 budget or a short-term measure, known as a continuing resolution (CR), the government will shut down on Oct. 1. The House Republicans narrowly passed a CR last week that would extend funding through Nov. 21. That bill failed in the Senate (most Senate bills must pass a 60-vote hurdle to achieve passage, so Democrats were able to block the bill). House and Senate Democrats advanced their own version of a CR, which Republicans blocked, leaving the CR situation in limbo. (Space prevents more detail on these bills, but please don’t hesitate to contact us if more information would be useful.)
The Senate is not set to return to Washington until Sept. 29, just one day before the deadline, while the House, at least for now, does not plan to reconvene before funding expires. Hopes for progress dimmed further on Tuesday, when President Trump abruptly canceled a planned meeting with Democratic leaders. As is standard in shutdown preparations, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued guidance to agencies, but this time, OMB went further, directing them to draft plans for permanent reductions in force (RIFs) rather than temporary furloughs. With time running short, the risk of an Oct. 1 shutdown continues to rise. See our primer for more information on CRs and shutdowns.
H-1B Visas: A recent presidential proclamation imposes a new $100,000 fee on H-1B visa petitions submitted after Sept. 21, 2025. Current H-1B holders are not affected. Read more about the proclamation here and keep up with this and other actions with our Administrative Action Timeline.
Connect with Your Local Chamber: More than 80 chambers of commerce nationwide have launched Business for Federal Research Funding. They have sent multiple letters to Congress urging robust funding for NIH, NSF, and NASA, among other agencies. Check here to see if your chamber of commerce is part of the coalition. If it isn’t, use this quick and easy script to ask your local chamber to join! There is strength in numbers: Help make this already influential coalition even more so!
Sign-on Opportunity: The Joint Associations Group on Indirect Costs (JAG) is seeking signatories on a letter to appropriators addressing the important issue of ensuring sufficient reimbursement for the facility and administrative costs of research. Learn more about JAG’s efforts here, and review the letter, which is open to national organizations, societies, associations, and individual institutions, here.
If your organization is interested in participating, JAG asks you to use the form at this link.
Nominations Open: Top 10 Clinical Research Awards: The Clinical Research Forum is now accepting nominations for their 2026 Top 10 Awards. These prestigious awards honor outstanding clinical research accomplishments resulting from the nation’s investment in research. The Herbert Pardes Clinical Research Excellence Award is named after a long-standing leader who devoted his career to science and public health and served on Research!America’s Board of Directors for three decades. Learn more about the awards here and submit your nominations here. The deadline to submit is Oct. 13.
Science Leadership Update: Former Research!America Board member Dario Gil, Ph.D., was confirmed as under secretary for science at the Department of Energy last week. Most recently, Dr. Gil served as IBM’s senior vice president and director of research. He is also a former member of the Science and Technology Action Committee (see the committee’s statement here), former chair of the National Science Board, and was instrumental in developing the Vision for American Science and Technology.
Important New Survey Findings: The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) released key findings from a nationwide survey conducted at the end of August. This survey, which focused on voters’ attitudes about federal funding for cancer research, provides important insights. For example, 72% of respondents who prioritize reducing the national debt and federal spending also prioritize increasing funding for medical research.
National Health Research Forum Video: We hosted the in-person programming for our 2025 National Health Research Forum last week at the AAAS headquarters in Washington, D.C. Watch the video recording of the event on our YouTube channel here. It includes the keynote address from NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya and a presentation and panel discussion focused on insights from new public opinion research.
Member-only Discussion: If you are affiliated with a Research!America alliance organization, join us on Tuesday, Oct. 7, at noon ET for an alliance member-only meeting via Zoom. We’ll be joined by Jason Van Pelt of Crossroads Strategies for an update on the government funding situation after the pivotal end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30. We’ll discuss other R&D-related developments and leave plenty of time for Q&A. Email Jacqueline Lagoy for the Zoom registration link.
Support Our Advocacy Work: The turbulent federal funding and policy climate places research, and the critical progress it brings, at unprecedented risk. With your support, Research!America is working every day to ensure our nation’s discovery, development, and delivery system not only survives, but thrives; the breakthroughs that save lives depend on it. Your support is crucial to ensuring that medical and public health progress remain a national priority. Donate now.