Government Shutdown Puts U.S. Science at Risk
The U.S. government shut down on October 1 after lawmakers failed to reach agreement on a short-term funding bill. While shutdowns have become a recurring feature of Washington politics, this one is shaping up to be different: President Donald Trump's Administration is using the lapse in funding to press for mass layoffs of federal workers, which include scientists, as part of a broader plan to cut 300,000 federal jobs this year.
Contingency plans released by agencies highlight the scale of disruption. Non-essential operations across research agencies have halted. The National Institutes of Health has paused new grant reviews and awards, suspended intramural research, and halted new patient admissions at its Clinical Center. The National Science Foundation and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will stop issuing new grants if the shutdown drags on. Nearly 89 percent of EPA staff, 57 percent of the Department of Energy, and half of Interior's workforce are slated for furlough.
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) faces the prospect of furloughing most of its staff. Even if a continuing resolution passes, NASA has been instructed to "work toward" the House's proposed fiscal year 2026 funding levels--an 18% cut to its Science Mission Directorate, compared to the near-level funding proposed in the Senate. A report released by Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Ranking Member Maria Cantwell (D-WA) also alleges that NASA has been implementing cuts from the president's budget request since early summer in violation of spending levels approved by Congress.
In addition to furloughs, agencies have been directed by the Office of Management and Budget to consider issuing "reductions in force"--permanent layoffs--targeting programs lacking alternative funding or misaligned with Administration priorities. The duration of the shutdown and the extent of potential layoffs remain uncertain.
Federal science agencies were already shrinking before the shutdown. Since January, more than 201,000 civilian federal workers have left government service. EPA staffing is down 10 percent, DOE nearly 13 percent, and Interior 14 percent compared with September 2024. Interior alone has lost nearly 10,000 employees, with sharp cuts at the U.S. Geological Survey, Bureau of Land Management, Fish and Wildlife Service, and National Park Service. EPA has shed nearly 1,700 staff and is pursuing further reductions, including closing offices and eliminating research functions.
The Administration's messaging around the shutdown has sparked its own controversy. House Oversight Committee Ranking Member Robert Garcia (D-CA) has asked the Office of Special Counsel to investigate whether banners on federal websites blaming Democrats for the shutdown violate the Hatch Act's restrictions on political activity by federal employees. Some ethics experts suggest the messaging may also breach the Anti-Lobbying Act. The White House maintains that its statements are factual and lawful.
Negotiations to end the shutdown remain stalled, with disputes over Affordable Care Act subsidies and broader budget priorities dividing lawmakers. Recalling the record 35-day shutdown during Trump's first term, researchers warn that a prolonged closure--combined with potential mass layoffs--could inflict lasting damage on U.S. science.
Changes to NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Leave Students Reeling
The National Science Foundation (NSF) has announced major changes to its Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP), excluding second-year Ph.D. students from eligibility. For the past decade, NSF allowed students to apply once during graduate school, leading many to wait until their second year to strengthen their proposals--making this abrupt shift especially disruptive.
The announcement was also delayed, leaving applicants just over six weeks--rather than the typical 90 days--to prepare their submissions. While undergraduates, recent graduates, and first-year Ph.D. students remain eligible, the new rules pressure early-stage graduate students to apply before they've fully established their research direction.
NSF says the change restores the program's original focus on supporting students at the very start of their research careers. Critics argue that the lack of advance notice unfairly disadvantages applicants, especially those from less-resourced institutions who rely on extra time to strengthen their records.
The NSF Directorate for Biological Sciences will hold a special virtual office hour on October 16, 2025, from 1:00-2:00 PM ET to present details on the new solicitation and answer questions from applicants, reference writers, and reviewers. Register here to attend.
Meanwhile, a petition led by Daniel Bolnick, president of the American Society of Naturalists--an AIBS member, and others calls on NSF to reverse the changes for this year's applicants and commit to providing adequate notice for any future eligibility adjustments. The petition remains open for signatures.
White House Sets FY 2027 R&D Priorities
The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) have released guidance outlining federal research and development (R&D) priorities for fiscal year (FY) 2027. The memo, signed by OMB Director Russ Vought and OSTP Director Michael Kratsios, emphasizes a shift toward "mission-driven" research focused on economic growth, energy dominance, national security, and technological competitiveness.
Priorities include advancing artificial intelligence, quantum science, semiconductors, and advanced manufacturing; expanding fossil, nuclear, and critical mineral research; strengthening defense capabilities such as hypersonics, autonomous systems, and missile defense; investing in health, biotechnology, food security, and biosecurity; and accelerating human exploration of the Moon and Mars alongside space-based defense systems. The guidance also calls for research on Arctic security and deep-sea mining to support U.S. strategic and economic interests.
Crosscutting goals stress restoring "Gold Standard Science," building the STEM workforce, enhancing research infrastructure, and increasing public-private collaboration. The memo dismisses past emphasis on diversity and climate-focused initiatives, saying that federal research had been "weighed down by woke ideology" and must now be "unapologetically in service of the American people." Instead, the Administration frames science's role as driving high-wage employment, boosting economic competitiveness, and reinforcing defense capabilities.
The directive comes as federal science agencies already face significant staffing cuts, grant delays, and program closures under Trump's broader plan to shrink the government. With budgets expected to tighten further, agencies are being urged to consolidate efforts and "double down on high-value research efforts."
Anthony Letai Sworn in as National Cancer Institute Director
Dr. Anthony Letai, a Harvard Medical School oncologist and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute researcher, has been sworn in as Director of the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the world's largest cancer research agency.
A leader in studying programmed cell death in cancer, Dr. Letai helped develop the leukemia drug venetoclax and has pioneered functional assays to guide personalized cancer treatment. He holds a B.A. in physics from Princeton University and earned his M.D. and Ph.D. from the University of Chicago.
NCI had been without a permanent director since January, with Principal Deputy Director Douglas Lowy serving as Acting Director. Cancer research leaders praised Letai's deep scientific expertise and collaborative approach, and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and National Institutes of Health Director Jay Bhattacharya praised his leadership as key to advancing cancer research.
Trump Administration Moves to Raise H-1B Visa Costs
President Trump has issued a proclamation requiring U.S. employers to pay a $100,000 fee for each new H-1B visa application, a move that could sharply limit universities' ability to hire foreign-born scientists and engineers. The change, effective for applications filed after September 21, also applies to universities and nonprofits typically exempt from the program's annual cap of 85,000 visas.
The Administration argues that heavy reliance on foreign workers displaces American talent and poses a national security risk. Officials frame the move as a way to protect U.S. workers and curb alleged abuses by companies relying on lower-paid foreign labor. Critics say the policy threatens U.S. competitiveness and the pipeline of international graduate students. The American Immigration Lawyers Association argues the fee is unconstitutional because only Congress can set visa costs.
Universities may seek exemptions under a "national interest" clause, but observers warn the fee could effectively force institutions to hire only U.S. candidates. The proclamation also signals changes to prioritize higher-paid applicants and raise wage requirements, with multiple provisions expected to face legal challenges.
Meanwhile, the Department of Homeland Security is pursuing a separate rule to cap international student visas at four years, a move that could complicate Ph.D. studies that typically extend beyond that timeframe.
Four NIH Institute Directors Fired After Months on Leave
After being placed on administrative leave earlier this year, four National Institutes of Health (NIH) institute directors and one senior official have been formally dismissed, Science Insider reports.
The ousted leaders include Jeanne Marrazzo, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID); Diana Bianchi, Director of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development; Eliseo Pérez-Stable, Director of the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities; Shannon Zenk, Director of the National Institute of Nursing Research; and NIH Deputy Director Tara Schwetz.
All had been placed on administrative leave in March, the same week Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced mass layoffs. Some had requested to remain as NIH intramural investigators but were denied. Marrazzo, who succeeded Anthony Fauci at NIAID, has filed a whistleblower complaint alleging her removal was politically motivated.
Senate to Vote on Several Science Nominees
The Senate voted to confirm a second large bloc of more than 100 nominees, including several key science and technology leadership positions.
Among those slated for confirmation are Ned Mamula, nominated to lead the U.S. Geological Survey; Neil Jacobs, to head the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA); Taylor Jordan, to direct NOAA's environmental observation and prediction programs; Audrey Robertson, to lead the Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy; and Timothy John Walsh, to lead the DOE Office of Environmental Management.
Republicans pushed through the first bloc of nearly 50 nominees last month after changing Senate rules to allow group confirmations, sidestepping Democratic efforts to slow the process. Some of the current nominees have been waiting more than four months for a floor vote.
Scientific Societies Raise Concerns Over Federal Grantmaking Order
A coalition of more than 50 scientific societies, including AIBS, have sent a letter to Congress, expressing concerns over provisions in the August 7, 2025 Executive Order titled "Improving Oversight of Federal Grantmaking." The letter urges Congress to provide necessary oversight at federal science agencies to prevent potentially significant damage to US leadership in scientific and medical research.
The letter calls on Congress to protect the integrity of the independent, merit-based peer-review system, while flagging concerns about expanded "termination for convenience" authority and new reporting requirements that could slow the grantmaking process. It also endorses the order's aim of broadening access to funding but questions how agencies will define "repeat players."
Read the letter.
AIBS Joins Comments Opposing DHS Proposal on International Students
AIBS has joined 38 other signatories in submitting joint comments to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) opposing its proposed rule to replace "Duration of Status" admissions for F-1 and J-1 visa holders with fixed periods of stay and an extension-of-stay process.
In comments submitted to DHS, the groups argued that the proposed rule does not account for the national-level economic impact, imposes an extension of stay process that is too uncertain, and does not provide periods of admission that are tied to the timelines for well-established, valuable programs.
The groups argue the rule would impose significant economic costs, deter international students and scholars, and overwhelm DHS's administrative capacity. They urge DHS to withdraw the proposal and instead adopt flexible approaches that protect national security while ensuring students, researchers, and physicians can complete their programs without gaps in status or work authorization.
Nominations Sought for the IDEA2L Leadership Award
Nominations are currently being accepted for the AIBS Inspiring Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity, Acceptance, Accessibility, and Learning (IDEA2L) Leadership Award, which recognizes commendable leadership in advancing inclusion, diversity, equity, acceptance, accessibility, and learning in the biological sciences community.
Awards will be made at the discretion of the AIBS IDEA2 Committee, which may choose one award, no award, or multiple awards in any one year.
Individual award recipients will receive complimentary registration to an AIBS Professional Development Training Course. Recipients are also given a $500 honorarium or the option of donating the amount to an AIBS Initiative. With their approval, awardees will also receive additional recognition at AIBS events and on the AIBS website.
Anyone may submit a nomination for the IDEA2L Award with the candidate's permission. Self-nominations are accepted. Nominations must clearly document why the candidate should be considered, above all others, for this distinguished award. Nominations must be received by 5:00 PM Eastern Time on Friday, October 10, 2025.
Learn more about the nomination and selection process.
From the Federal Register
The following items appeared in the Federal Register from September 22 to October 3, 2025.
Commerce
Council on Environmental Quality
Executive Office of the President
Health and Human Services
Interior
Office of Science and Technology Policy
