Muddy Waters
There was some progress on Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations this week, but we still have a lot of unanswered questions as we quickly approach a new funding deadline. House Appropriations Committee Chair Tom Cole (R-OK) and Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Susan Collins (R-ME) have reportedly agreed to “topline” (overall) funding numbers for six spending bills: Commerce, Justice, Science (which includes funding for NSF and several other science agencies); Homeland Security; Financial Services; Interior-Environment; State-Foreign Operations; and Transportation-HUD. These topline numbers have not been released and the next steps (bipartisan negotiations or party-line votes) remain unclear.
The waters are even muddier when it comes to the outlook for the larger bills: the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies (Labor-HHS) which funds NIH, CDC, ARPA-H, AHRQ, BARDA, and other research and public health agencies; and the Defense bill, which includes funding for the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs. There is still a possibility that the Senate will vote on their versions of these bills in December…we’ll keep you posted.
As this very long and very consequential process continues, please help press for an increase of at least $400 million for NIH in FY26. Use our editable action alert to weigh in. And feel free to tailor it to spotlight other research and public health agencies important to your work. Consider this: when things are in flux, it can be a time of opportunity – seize the moment to advocate!
NIH Updates:
- As discussed during Wednesday’s alliance member-only meeting, questions remain regarding the implications of recently announced changes to the NIH grant review process. We’ll continue the conversation on this topic at our next member-only meeting – details below. If your organization is not yet a Research!America member and you would like to join the discussion as our guest, email Donald Cook.
- As Director Jay Bhattacharya has indicated in previous public statements, NIH is planning to make a series of changes aimed at reducing administrative complexity for both the Institutes and grantees. Yesterday, NIH announced that it was eliminating letters of intent and simplifying the process for certain funding requests.
- The application deadlines for many of the open Institute and Center Director positions have been extended until Dec. 12, as noticed here.
Upheaval at the FDA: The regulatory phase of the discovery, development, and delivery pipeline — the work led by the FDA — is often taken for granted, yet it plays a pivotal role in ensuring that medical advances, major categories of food, and other essential products meet Americans’ expectations for safety, effectiveness, and quality. Ongoing leadership turnover across key FDA positions has raised questions about stability and continuity at the agency. If you are with an alliance member organization, please save the date for a special FDA-focused, member-only meeting on Thursday, Jan. 8 at noon ET, where we will discuss these developments and their implications in more detail.
Give Kids a Chance: The House unanimously passed the Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act, a bipartisan package that reauthorizes FDA’s long expired Rare Pediatric Disease Priority Review Voucher (PRV) program through 2029 and bolsters pediatric study requirements. The bill aims to accelerate therapies for rare pediatric conditions, an area where PRVs have already spurred dozens of new treatments. The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration. Get in touch with Ellie Dehoney if you’d like to discuss advocacy around this package.
Supporting a Robust Biotech Sector: The Congressional BIOTech Caucus Advisory Coalition held a reception on Tuesday evening celebrating the launch of the BIOTech Caucus, co-chaired by Rep. Stephanie Bice (R-OK) and Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA). The Caucus will play an important role in advancing S&T legislation with its mission to advance bipartisan policy solutions to keep the United States at the forefront of global biotechnology leadership. The Science and Technology Action Committee (STAC) looks forward to working with the Caucus to advance the U.S. science and technology enterprise.
A Call for the Future: The Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) has issued a Request for Information seeking policy proposals to boost the nation’s S&T ecosystem. The comment period for this request is 30 days. The Vision for American Science and Technology (VAST), released last February, is a roadmap for putting U.S. science and technology to work at the fastest possible pace to assure global competitiveness, a strong and healthy workforce, and national security. Elements of VAST can be noted in the RFI.
Mapping Science in a Changing Landscape: On Tuesday Dec. 16, at noon ET, we will host a Research!America alliance member-only discussion featuring Joshua Weitz, Ph.D. of the University of Maryland. We’ve asked Joshua to discuss ongoing, collaborative efforts by researchers to confront threats to science and foster a renewed commitment to federal investment in basic and translational research. As always, we’ll take time for a Washington update and leave plenty of time for Q&A. Email Jacqueline Lagoy to register.
Rescheduled Hill Briefing: Our Health Services Research (HSR) Capitol Hill Briefing has been rescheduled to Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026, from noon to 1:30 p.m. ET. (Lunch will be provided.) Expert speakers will detail the important role of HSR, an area of research critical to ensuring medical progress translates into patient benefit. Join us in 2044 Rayburn House Office Building. Learn more about this event and register here.
Support Our Advocacy Work: The turbulent federal funding and policy climate places research — and the critical progress it delivers — at unprecedented risk. With your support, Research!America is working every day to ensure our nation’s discovery, development, and innovation ecosystem not only survives, but thrives. Your support is crucial to ensuring that medical and public health progress remain a national priority. Donate now.