NSF Headquarters Facing Relocation
Last week, National Science Foundation (NSF) staff were abruptly informed that their headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia, will soon be taken over by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), with no clear plan for where NSF's more than 1,800 employees will go.
The announcement, made by HUD Secretary Scott Turner at a press conference, came just one hour after NSF staff received an internal memo about the relocation. The General Services Administration (GSA) cited the need to vacate aging federal buildings like HUD's current site, which has over $500 million in deferred maintenance.
Acting NSF Director Brian Stone said in the memo that GSA planned for the science agency to move "to another building in the Washington, D.C. area in the near future." Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin, who was at the press conference, said he was "incredibly committed" to keeping NSF in his state. "We had multiple sites that we presented to GSA for HUD, and we're just dusting those off and are going to present them for NSF," he said.
The sudden announcement drew criticism from both NSF's employee union and Democratic members of Congress. The union stated there was no consultation, planning, or funding for NSF's relocation. Critics are calling the decision an "abuse of power," viewing it as part of a broader pattern of hostility towards science, which has included grant cancellations, staff firings, and proposed budget cuts under the current administration.
Judge Orders NIH to Restore Terminated Grants
A federal judge has ruled that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) acted illegally when it terminated hundreds of research grants earlier this year.
The decision restores funding for parties involved in the lawsuit, including individual researchers, members of the American Public Health Association, the United Auto Workers union, and public institutions in the 16 states that sued the agency. Judge William Young called the NIH's actions discriminatory against racial and LGBTQ communities. The Department of Health and Human Services is considering an appeal.
In response to the ruling, NIH will reinstate about 900 of the roughly 2,400 research grants that were previously terminated under the Trump Administration's Executive Orders banning federal funding for topics like diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI), racial health disparities, and transgender health. NIH has also paused new terminations and instructed staff to resume payments for the reinstated awards. More guidance is expected as the agency works to comply with the court's order.
The National Science Foundation (NSF) is also facing lawsuits for its grant terminations, including one filed by attorneys general in 16 states and another filed by a coalition of educators and researchers. The second lawsuit, filed earlier this month, claims NSF cut funding without proper justification or due process, including grants supporting diversity in STEM mandated by Congress.
NSF Announces 500 Additional GRFP Awards, Excludes Life Sciences
The National Science Foundation (NSF) announced that an additional 500 Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) awards were given this year, bringing the total awards to approximately 1,500 for the 2025-2026 cohort. The total is still down from the more than 2,000 awards that were typically offered in recent years.
This latest round of awards has raised eyebrows for its sharp disciplinary shift. According to an analysis by two former GRFP directors, none of the 500 newly named fellows--selected from a pool of 3,000 honorable mentions--hail from the life sciences, a field that typically claims 20% of awards. Meanwhile, fields like computer science and physics saw higher than usual success rates.
Critics worry the shift aligns with political priorities rather than scientific merit and could undermine the diversity and balance of the future STEM workforce.
Senate Republicans Race to Pass Reconciliation Bill
Senate Republicans are moving quickly to pass a sweeping budget reconciliation package focused on tax cuts, energy, and border security. The legislation, shaped by intense weekend negotiations, includes significant rollbacks of Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) climate tax credits and introduces a controversial new tax on wind and solar projects.
The bill has drawn criticism from clean energy advocates and Democrats, who argue it undermines climate progress. While it retains incentives for hydrogen, nuclear, and geothermal energy, it accelerates the phase-out of EV and charging infrastructure credits. The bill revives fossil fuel lease sales, expands timber and coal development, delays methane leak penalties, and fast-tracks permitting for companies willing to pay. The package would also reclaim unspent IRA funds, including $27 billion from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund.
Some energy and environmental provisions were scaled back following rulings by the Senate parliamentarian, who determined several proposals did not meet the budgetary requirements for reconciliation. These included proposals to rollback Environmental Protection Agency tailpipe emissions rules and authorize broad public land sales.
Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) had revised his public land sale proposal last week, significantly shrinking its scope to exclude Forest Service lands and limit Bureau of Land Management sales to 0.5% of land within 5 miles of population centers across 11 Western states--down from up to 1.5% in the earlier proposal. However, he ultimately withdrew the proposal saying he was "unable to secure clear, enforceable safeguards to guarantee that these lands would be sold only to American families, not to China, not to BlackRock, and not to any foreign interests."
On the tax side, Republicans propose increasing excise taxes on wealthy university endowments--up to 8% for schools with over $2 million per student--while exempting small and religious institutions. The House has proposed higher tax rates, up to 21%, for the wealthiest schools. A significant provision in the Senate bill, also mirrored in the House version, would permanently restore immediate deductions for domestic research expenses, aiming to boost R&D investment by reversing current amortization rules.
Senate Republicans voted to advance the "big, beautiful" bill on Saturday night in a 51 to 49 vote. The only two Republicans to vote against the measure were Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Rand Paul (R-KY). The chamber is expected to consider amendments today, with final passage possible by tonight. The House is set to take up the bill upon its return on Wednesday. GOP leaders are pushing to pass the legislation, which reflects President Trump's domestic priorities, by July 4.
White House Targets Science in Push to Freeze Agency Spending
The Trump Administration is moving to freeze over $30 billion in federal spending, including major cuts to science agencies such as the National Science Foundation (NSF) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The freeze affects NSF research and education programs funded with leftover 2024 appropriations, as well as more than $100 million in science spending at NASA--much of it tied to climate research.
This action is part of a broader White House strategy, led by Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought, to test the limits of presidential control over the federal budget. The plan involves ordering agencies to freeze spending and then submitting a "deferrals" package to Congress--a legal mechanism to delay the use of appropriated funds. If lawmakers do not act in time, the deferred funds could be permanently rescinded through a follow-up proposal, much like the current $9.4 billion recissions package targeting foreign aid, NPR, and PBS.
Critics say the effort circumvents the Constitution and the Impoundment Control Act, which restricts executive power over federal spending. The Administration may also use "pocket rescissions"--running out the clock near the fiscal year's end--to eliminate funds without congressional approval. Legal experts warn the move could spark a constitutional crisis over separation of powers and may ultimately reach the Supreme Court.
NSF officials are reportedly scrambling to halt commitments from the affected accounts, with one official noting that offices relying on previous-year funding could see their programs "gutted." The freeze could severely disrupt research and marks a broader attempt to shift control of science funding from Congress to the executive branch.
Trump Administration Moves to Roll Back Roadless Forest Protections
The Trump Administration has announced plans to rescind the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule, which protects 58.5 million acres of national forests from road construction, logging, and development. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins unveiled the rollback at a Western governors' conference, calling the Clinton-era regulation "absurd" and claiming its repeal would enhance forest health and wildfire resilience while boosting timber production.
The decision, framed as a move toward sustainable forest management, is expected to face stiff legal challenges from environmental groups, which argue the rollback endangers wildlife, watersheds, and public access to undeveloped lands. Critics also note that repealing the rule will not automatically lead to logging, since new projects must still pass environmental reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act.
Supporters, including logging industry representatives and some congressional Republicans, argue the repeal is necessary to revitalize rural economies and reduce wildfire risks by thinning overgrown forests. However, opponents in Congress and environmental advocates call it a dangerous step that ignores public sentiment and risks long-term ecological damage.
The formal rulemaking process is still ahead, and the outcome will likely be shaped by legal, political, and administrative hurdles in the months to come.
Academic Coalition Proposes New Models to Reform Research Overhead Funding
A coalition of higher education groups is proposing major reforms to how universities are reimbursed for research overhead costs, aiming to prevent deep funding cuts proposed by the Trump Administration. The current system, which pays institutions 40-65% of direct research costs for infrastructure and support services, has faced criticism for lack of transparency and accountability.
The Joint Association Group (JAG), led by former Trump Science Adviser Kelvin Droegemeier, has introduced two new models. The first proposes setting fixed rates tailored to the specific institution and type of research. The second model requires detailed, project-level accounting of every expense under eight different categories, with a ninth category for "general research operations" to capture expenses that cannot be assigned to a particular project. Both models are designed to more accurately reflect actual expenditures, enhance efficiency, and replace the existing, often opaque, negotiation process.
These proposals come as the Trump Administration has sought to cap indirect cost reimbursements at a flat 15% for research agencies such as the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation. While several courts have temporarily blocked these caps (NSF's 15% indirect cost rate policy was vacated on June 20), JAG hopes its new models will garner legislative support, offering a more equitable and accountable alternative to broad, indiscriminate cuts.
In a related development, Republican leaders on the House Science Committee recently requested the Government Accountability Office to conduct a comprehensive review of the indirect costs associated with federally supported research "to assess the financial implications and ensure transparency in the expenditure process."
Writing for Impact and Influence Online Course: Starts July 9
The American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS) is once again offering its popular professional development program to help scientists and students hone their written communication skills to increase the power of their message.
Writing for Impact and Influence provides practical instruction and hands-on exercises that will improve the participant's general writing proficiency. The program will provide participants with the skills and tools needed to compose scientific press releases, blog posts, memoranda, and more, with a focus on the reader experience.
Each product-oriented session will have an assignment (deadlines are flexible), with feedback from the instructor. The course is interactive, and participants are encouraged to ask questions and exchange ideas with the instructor and other participants. Each session is also recorded and shared with all participants to accommodate scheduling conflicts.
Who Should Take the Course?
- Individuals interested in furthering their professional development by augmenting their writing skills.
- Graduate students and early-career professionals interested in increasing their marketability to employers.
- Individuals interested in more effectively informing and influencing segments of the public, supervisors, policymakers, reporters, organizational leaders, and others.
The course consists of six weekly 90-minute online modules conducted live and subsequently archived online for participant review. The course will begin on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, with subsequent course sessions held weekly on Wednesdays, through August 13. Individuals who actively participate in and complete the full course will receive a certificate recognizing that they have completed a nine-hour professional development course on business writing for scientists.
Register now.
Meet with Your Lawmakers This Summer and Help Inform Science Policy
Registration is currently open for the 2025 Biological Sciences Congressional District Visits event organized by the American Institute of Biological Sciences
Now in its 16th year, this national initiative is an opportunity for biologists across the country to meet with their federal or state elected officials to showcase the people, facilities, and equipment that are required to support and conduct scientific research. This initiative helps to put a face on science and to remind lawmakers that science is happening in their district and state.
The Biological Sciences Congressional District Visits event enables scientists, graduate students, representatives of research facilities, and people affiliated with scientific collections to meet with their federal or state elected officials without traveling to Washington, DC. Participating scientists can meet with their elected officials at the local district office or invite them to visit their research facility.
"I am grateful for the experience, which has enriched my professional development. I am particularly pleased to think that we started a conversation with Rep. Joyce Beatty's office that will continue in the future. I encourage everyone to reach out beyond their scientific community, which includes explaining your science to your district offices."
- Coralie Farinas, Graduate Student, Ohio State University
AIBS will schedule participants' meetings with lawmakers and will prepare participants through online training and one-on-one support. Meetings will take place mid-July through October, depending on the participant's schedule and their lawmaker's availability. Read the Frequently Asked Questions for more information.
This event is made possible by the American Institute of Biological Sciences, with the support of event sponsors American Society of Primatologists, Botanical Society of America, Organization of Biological Field Stations, Paleontological Society, and Society for the Study of Evolution.
Registration for participation is free, but required and closes on July 14, 2025. To learn more and register, visit io.aibs.org/cdv.
Short Takes
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The Trump Administration has canceled several U.S. science agencies' subscriptions to Springer Nature journals, including the Nature titles, citing concerns over editorial bias. The move affects multiple agencies, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Department of Energy. While it's unclear if the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is impacted, a Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson stated: "All contracts with Springer Nature are terminated or no longer active. Precious taxpayer dollars should not be used on unused subscriptions to junk science." Other major publishers appear unaffected.
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The NIH has rescinded a previous guide notice that prohibited grant recipients from operating DEI programs and engaging in boycotts of Israel. NIH briefly reinstated the policy before again rescinding it without explanation. The agency is awaiting further federal guidance before replacing or modifying the policy. The National Science Foundation (NSF) issued a similar policy in May that is still in effect.
- NSF has issued a request for information (RFI) on key technology focus areas for its Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (TIP). Comments are requested by July 21, 2025.
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The NIH is crafting a comprehensive, institute-wide AI strategy that envisions a progression from current data science tools to advanced, self-documenting autonomous AI systems for biomedical research. To help shape this vision, NIH is inviting public feedback on key themes, strategic pillars, and proposed actions for both its long-term AI Strategic Plan and an initial one-year action plan. Comments are requested by July 15, 2025.
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The Trump Administration has issued implementation guidance for its Executive Order on "Restoring Gold Standard Science." Agencies have been directed to report by August 22 on how they are adopting "Gold Standard Science" principles while minimizing bureaucracy. Notably, the guidance encourages the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to streamline tasks like conflict-of-interest reviews and data reporting. Critics warn the order could politicize science, as enforcement is left to non-scientist appointees and rolls back Biden-era protections against political interference.
From the Federal Register
The following items appeared in the Federal Register from June 16 to 27, 2025.
Agriculture
Commerce
Health and Human Services
Interior
National Science Foundation
Office of Science and Technology Policy
