Controversial White House Plan to Overhaul U.S. Science Funding Face Senate Opposition
US senators from both sides of the political aisle released a draft spending bill on 2 August that, if passed, would temporarily halt a far-reaching and controversial proposal by the White House to overhaul federally funded science. The proposal, which states that its goal is to improve “transparency, accountability, and oversight” of federal funds, contains provisions that would reshape US science, including putting political appointees in charge of federal grant review and restricting collaboration between US and international scientists. If finalized, the White House rule could go into effect on 1 October.
The overarching goal of the latest bill from the US Senate Committee on Appropriations, which oversees federal spending, is to prevent a government shutdown. US agencies, including funders such as the National Science Foundation (NSF), might have to furlough workers and shut down certain operations after 1 October, when the 2026 fiscal year ends, if Republican and Democratic members of the US Congress haven’t agreed on future spending levels. This bill would instead extend funding for agencies through 11 December, keeping it at existing levels while politicians continue to negotiate. As a condition of keeping the government open with this bill, lawmakers included a section that would prevent the White House proposal on federal grants from taking effect until the December extension date.
Science advocacy organizations have lauded the Senate committee’s bill. “It would not only keep the government open, but it would safeguard scientific progress,” Russ Paulsen, president of Research!America, a non-profit health research advocacy group in Arlington, Virginia, said in a statement.
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