Science Policy News from AIBS

Trump Administration Proposes Sweeping Changes to Federal Award Processes

The rules for federal funding for universities and other grantees may be changing, if a broad new proposal by the White House goes into effect later this year. The lengthy policy changes published in the Federal Register touch on many aspects of federal funding, including specifically research funding.

Under the proposal, the review process for science funding would have to include a new pre-issuance review process for consistency with "applicable law, federal agency priorities, and the national interest." In making funding decisions, federal agencies would be encouraged to "broaden the range of recipients, prioritize institutions demonstrating rigorous and reproducible scholarship, incorporate benchmarks for measuring performance of 'Gold Standard Science,' and direct agencies to weigh institutional commitment to research integrity."

Federal agencies would also have the ability to terminate awards on a discretionary basis. Additionally. the proposal states that the outcomes of the peer review process are "advisory and does not replace agency discretion." Research and development activities that involve international work would be subject to new restrictions. A new tracking system would require research awards to be categorized as basic research, applied research, or experimental development.

The draft new regulations would prevent federal funds from being spent on diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. OMB also proposes that journal publication costs, including article processing charges and open access fees, are unallowable expenses. Notably, no changes are proposed to the indirect cost rate negotiation system.

Other changes would include eliminating the use of fixed amount awards and subawards, and allowing agencies to restrict eligibility for funding among different types of nonprofits. Additionally, disclosure would be required if the recipient, subrecipient, or any of their employees were employed by the funding agency in the prior two years, among other changes.

Dozens of federal agencies would need to update their rules for federal funds should the new policy go into effect, including the National Science Foundation; the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Energy, and the Interior; and the Environmental Protection Agency. The policy would apply to grants, cooperative agreements, and other types of federal funding.

The notice announcing the proposed revisions states that the changes are needed because of a "lack of transparency, accountability, and proper oversight" that resulted in "woke" and "unlawful identity-based" diversity, equity, and inclusion policies and preferences.

Public comments are due on or before July 13, 2026. Read the draft regulations.

More Science Funding Bills Advance in the House

The House Appropriations Committee is moving forward more fiscal year (FY) 2027 appropriations bills.

The Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies voted on a bill that proposes a 20% cut to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Science and technology programs at EPA would be cut even deeper (-29%). The U.S. Geological Survey would receive $1.37 billion, a reduction of 3.7%. The National Park Service (-1%), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (-5%), and the Bureau of Land Management (-4.4%) would also receive cuts. Forest and Rangeland Research within the U.S. Forest Service would receive $295 million (-4.5%).

In addition to funding federal agencies, the legislation proposes some policy changes, including preventing the listing of several species under the Endangered Species Act, as well as lifting restrictions on hunting, fishing, and recreational shooting on federal lands.

Meanwhile, House Democrats introduced legislation to freeze layoffs of federal employees within the Department of the Interior and the U.S. Forest Service through FY 2030. H.R. 8523 would continue the moratorium on staff layoffs in those agencies, which expired earlier this year.

The full House Appropriations Committee recently voted on a bill to fund energy and water programs. It would increase funding for the Department of Energy's Office of Science by 1.5% to $8.5 billion. The Department's Biological and Environmental Research program would be funded at $800 million. This is a 6.3% cut relative to the FY 2026 enacted level, but a much higher funding level than proposed in the President's budget request. Funding for the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) would be reduced by $50 million to $300 million.

CDC Pulls Back Changes to Vaccine Advisory Committee

Changes keep unfurling for a federal advisory group that is charged with providing recommendations on immunizations. The Trump Administration published a notice in the Federal Register on May 19 announcing the re-establishment of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. While such charter renewals are often routine government business, this one comes in the wake of a number of other notable events, including a ruling by a federal judge to halt prior changes to the committee.

In June 2025, the entire 17 member committee was fired by Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and replaced. Since then, the new membership issued recommendations that did not align with the general scientific consensus on vaccines. In March 2026, a federal judge ordered a hold on the committee's new vaccine guidance, stating that the government disregarded the scientific process. The court decision also temporarily blocked the appointments of 13 of the 15 replacement committee members.

Then in April, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published a notice in the Federal Register that the committee's charter was being renewed, but with substantial changes to the membership qualifications. The new criteria were broader and called for individuals with expertise in toxicology, pediatric neurodevelopment, data science, statistical analysis, health economics, and recovery from serious vaccine injuries. Previously, only experts in public health, vaccines, and vaccine research were eligible to serve. Reuters reported that these changes would have allowed the Secretary to reappoint the committee members who were the subject of the court ruling.

The most recent notice states that due to "an administrative error...the charter lapsed and the committee must be re-established." This notice appears to undue the actions announced by CDC in April. The new charter calls for members from "a balanced range of scientific, clinical, and public health expertise relevant to the [committee's] mission."

Roll Back of PFAS Drinking Water Protections

The Environmental Protection Agency is proposing to rescind Biden-era protections against four "forever chemicals" in drinking water. The existing regulations set strict limits on the amount of six different per- and polyfluoroalkyl chemicals (PFAS) in tap water. These chemicals are linked to cancer and other negative health effects. The drinking water of more than 100 million Americans contains PFAS.

The proposed policy was published in the Federal Register and is currently open for public comment.

More Leadership Turmoil at NIH Institute

The Trump Administration is ousting three additional high-ranking science leaders at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. As reported by Nature, the three officials were given the choice to resign or be reassigned elsewhere. This brings the count to eight of ten top officials at the Institute who have been removed during the Trump Administration. It is highly unusual for career scientists to be removed or reassigned in this manner.

While this story was developing, the news also broke that the acting director of the Institute, Jeffery Taubenberger, is stepping down.

Overseas Research Collaborations Under More Scrutiny

Legislation recently introduced in Congress would ban U.S. scientists who receive federal research funding from collaborating with Chinese scientists.

The bill is sponsored by Representative John Moolenaar (R-MI), who chairs the House Select Committee on China, and Senator Jim Banks (R-IN). In a press release, the bill sponsors say that the legislation would codify executive actions by the Trump Administration.

"Departments across the government and our universities must step up and make sure they are not working with Chinese researchers on dual-use technologies that could one day be used against our country," stated the bill sponsors in a press release.

The Securing Innovation and Research from Adversaries (SIRA) Act (S. 4525) would specifically prohibit the use of federal research funds for research collaborations with people or entities that are on the U.S. government's blacklist. This would include joint research projects, co-authorship, data sharing, and personnel exchanges.

Meanwhile, at least two major U.S. science agencies have restricted U.S. researchers from publishing with any foreign collaborators. No new policies have been officially announced, but some grantees have aired issues they have encountered, which were recently reported by Science.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) informed U.S.-based researchers that they must get permission from the agency before co-authoring a paper with a researcher who is affiliated with a foreign institution. The policy at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) appears to be even stricter, with some grantees told that no Chinese co-authors would be allowed.

Previously, NIH did not restrict publication with a foreign co-author as long as the research occurred in the United States, but agency approval was required if the work occurred outside of the U.S. The recent changes appear to prevent co-authorship by visiting researchers and scientists who moved abroad after the initial research was completed.

AIBS Joins Letter Expressing Concerns About Proposed Forest Service Reorganization

AIBS joined the Ecological Society of America, the Entomological Society of America, and The Wildlife Society, along with 24 other scientific and professional organizations, in sending a letter to Congress expressing strong concerns about the proposed reorganization of the U.S. Forest Service (USFS).

"Congress has explicitly restricted the use of FY 2026 appropriated funds to conduct agency reorganizations, including provisions stating that funds may not be used to 'eliminate programs or projects, relocate an office or employees, or reorganize offices, programs, or activities' without prior approval from the Committee on Appropriations," the letter reads. "The proposed changes to USFS reflect a large-scale restructuring that potentially violates appropriations law and warrants close congressional oversight to ensure no legal limits are crossed."

The letter outlines specific requests, including the need for robust congressional oversight and ensuring that appropriated funds for USFS Research and Development are used as intended.

Read the letter.

Meet with Your Lawmakers This Summer and Help Inform Science Policy

The American Institute of Biological Sciences is pleased to announce that registration is now open for the 2026 Biological Sciences Congressional District Visits event.

Now in its 17th 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 Arachnological Society, American Society of Primatologists, Botanical Society of America, Florida International University Institute of Environment, Mycological Society of America, Organization of Biological Field Stations, and Paleontological Society.

Registration for participation is free, but required and closes on July 13, 2026. To learn more and register, visit io.aibs.org/cdv.

Short Takes

All federal workers would be required to sign a nondisclosure agreement under a proposal issued by the White House Office of Personnel Management. The policy would apply to both new hires and current employees. "The form is intended to document Federal employees' acknowledgment of, and agreement to comply with, current legal obligations to safeguard non-public, confidential, or proprietary information," according the notice in the Federal Register. The proposed policy is currently under review, with the opportunity for public comment.
The Senate approved President Trump's nomination of Steve Pearce to lead the Bureau of Land Management. Pearce previously served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2003 to 2009 and from 2011 to 2019. He served on the House Natural Resources Committee. A staunch Trump ally, Pearce has been a vocal advocate for expanding oil and gas drilling on federal lands and reducing the size of national monuments.
The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) announced a new program to accelerate breakthroughs in AI-powered research. Intelligent Generator of Research (IGoR) is currently accepting applications for research teams working across computational biology, AI and machine learning, experimental science, and lab infrastructure. Learn more about the program and apply here.