Jeffrey Mervis
@policyhound.bsky.social
đ€ 2632
đ„ 12
đ 78
I'm a senior correspondent for Science, trying to explain to scientists how government works.
NSF plans to streamline merit review to heal self-inflicted staffing wound
www.science.org/content/arti...
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NSF pares down grant-review process, reducing influence of outside scientists
Memo cites overburdened staff, but some say move also aims to elevate White House priorities
https://www.science.org/content/article/nsf-pares-down-grant-review-process-reducing-influence-outside-scientists
8 days ago
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A major reorganization and significant downsizing has left scientists wondering about the future of the US National Academies.
www.science.org/content/arti...
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Can a smaller U.S. National Academies remain relevant?
Loss of federal support leads to staff layoffs and fewer committees of outside experts
https://www.science.org/content/article/can-smaller-u-s-national-academies-remain-relevant
about 1 month ago
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And here's the GSA announcement of NSF's new digs:
www.gsa.gov/about-us/new...
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NSF could be moving down the street
Government sets requirements for new space that sound like nearby patent office campus
https://www.science.org/content/article/nsf-could-be-moving-down-street
about 1 month ago
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NSF announced today it is moving a half-mile down the street to be neighbors of the US Patent Office in Alexandria, Va. Here's our earlier story on the possibility.
www.science.org/content/arti...
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NSF could be moving down the street
Government sets requirements for new space that sound like nearby patent office campus
https://www.science.org/content/article/nsf-could-be-moving-down-street
about 1 month ago
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Republican spending plan for Census Bureau could shrink response rate on decennial census to 28%
www.science.org/content/arti...
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Republican push to make U.S. census surveys voluntary alarms statisticians
Pending bills targeting decennial census and American Community Survey would make results less reliable
https://www.science.org/content/article/republican-push-make-u-s-census-surveys-voluntary-alarms-statisticians
about 1 month ago
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Conferees on Defense bill asked to jettison House language that would end US collaborations with Chinese scientists and former students back in China
www.science.org/content/arti...
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U.S. Congress considers sweeping ban on Chinese collaborations
Researchers speak out against proposal that would bar funding for U.S. scientists working with Chinese partners or training Chinese students
https://www.science.org/content/article/u-s-congress-considers-sweeping-ban-chinese-collaborations
about 2 months ago
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Study finds China's higher education boom led to expansion of US STEM masters programs
www.science.org/content/arti...
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A flood of Chinese graduate students in STEM was a boon to U.S. students
Study shows the influx allowed U.S. programs to expand enrollment and also benefited local businesses
https://www.science.org/content/article/flood-chinese-graduate-students-stem-was-boon-u-s-students
about 2 months ago
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Doing research in Antarctica was plenty hard before NSF cancelled its lease on its main ship, the Nathaniel Palmer. Read how scientists are coping.
www.science.org/content/arti...
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How NSF hopes to keep Antarctic scientists afloat without an icebreaker
Ending Palmer lease is one of many belt-tightening moves amid budget uncertainty
https://www.science.org/content/article/how-nsf-hopes-keep-antarctic-scientists-afloat-without-icebreaker
2 months ago
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One word can make a world of difference if you're the head of an NSF directorate. Read why in this newsletter.
www.science.org/content/arti...
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ScienceAdviser: Tiny tubes may let neurons communicate directly
Today in Science and science: Why women live longer than men, evidence that wildfires are worsening, and more
https://www.science.org/content/article/scienceadviser-tiny-tubes-may-let-neurons-communicate-directly
3 months ago
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NCAR avoids furloughs but tightens belt as bigger cuts loom
www.science.org/content/arti...
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https://www.science.org/content/article/renowned-u-s-climate-center-trims-staff-ahead-expected-budget-cuts
3 months ago
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California researchers take heart from nuanced ruling in suit to get grants reinstated
www.science.org/content/arti...
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U.S. court orders NIH to restore killed grants to California researchers
Judge says district court is proper forum to protest mass grant terminations
https://www.science.org/content/article/u-s-court-orders-nih-restore-killed-grants-california-researchers
3 months ago
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US universities must now decide if hiring a foreign scientist is "worth" spending an extra $100K.
www.science.org/content/arti...
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Trump visa policy requires universities to pay huge fee to hire foreign scholars
U.S. employers to pay $100,000 for every new H-1B visa
https://www.science.org/content/article/trump-visa-policy-requires-universities-pay-huge-fee-hire-foreign-scholars
3 months ago
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How far can NSF bend before it breaks? Science looks at what's happened to the agency under Trump.
www.science.org/content/arti...
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Under Trump, NSF faces worst crisis in its 75-year history
Political directives have undermined agency's independence and record of supporting the best basic research
https://www.science.org/content/article/under-trump-nsf-faces-worst-crisis-its-75-year-history
3 months ago
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Despite its 162-year-history of service, congressional Republicans tell federal agencies not to seek the advice of the National Academies.
www.science.org/content/arti...
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House panels charge U.S. National Academies with producing partisan studies
Pending spending bill urges agencies to find other sources of scientific advice
https://www.science.org/content/article/house-panels-charge-u-s-national-academies-producing-partisan-studies
3 months ago
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Having a hard time tracking how Congress might revamp indirect costs? Here's what you need to know.
www.science.org/content/arti...
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ScienceAdviser: Can two new studies put cancer microbiome research back on track?
Today in Science and science: Surprising insights from marsquakes, the ecological impact of free-roaming buffalo, and more
https://www.science.org/content/article/scienceadviser-can-two-new-studies-put-cancer-microbiome-research-back-track
4 months ago
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Last week the chairman of the House science committee tried to convince an academic audience that Musk and DOGE has helped to regain public trust in government and science. What could go wrong?
www.science.org/content/arti...
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ScienceAdviser: The taming of the horse
Today in Science and science: Clues from Marsâs mantle, water pollution affects air quality, and more
https://www.science.org/content/article/scienceadviser-taming-horse
4 months ago
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www.science.org/content/arti...
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NSF could be moving down the street
Government sets requirements for new space that sound like nearby patent office campus
https://www.science.org/content/article/nsf-could-be-moving-down-street
4 months ago
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Lin ordered NSF to reinstate the suspended UCLA grants by 19 August or explain why it hasn't complied with her order. The case is Thakur v. Trump.
4 months ago
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Judge Lin rejected NSF's arguments that her earlier injunction didn't apply because the new batch of grants were only suspended. But Lin said that was a distinction without a difference and that NSF had violated the Administrative Procedures Act by failing to provide an adequate explanation.
4 months ago
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US District Court Judge Rita Lin today ordered NSF to reinstate the 300 grants to UCLA that it suspended on 30 July, saying the agency violated a preliminary injunction she issued in June on a different set of grants to UCLA researchers. 1/2
4 months ago
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Deconstructing Trump's latest directive on managing federal research: how bad is it?
www.science.org/content/arti...
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Trump order aims to politicize decisions on federal science grants
Researchers worried by plan giving political appointees more control over where funding goes
https://www.science.org/content/article/trump-order-aims-politicize-decisions-federal-science-grants
5 months ago
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NSF's suspension of UCLA grants could run afoul of injunction against earlier terminations.
www.science.org/content/arti...
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Has NSF defied a court order by suspending 300 UCLA grants?
Federal judge to hear arguments relating to preliminary injunction to restore funding for other UC grants
https://www.science.org/content/article/has-nsf-defied-court-order-suspending-300-ucla-grants
5 months ago
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Revisions to BLS job numbers are the norm, not the exception, says former commissioner Erica Groshen, who explains why Trump's criticism is misguided.
www.science.org/content/arti...
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Why a top economist discounts Trumpâs claim U.S. jobs data are âriggedâ
A former head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics rebuts reason why president fired the agencyâs leader
https://www.science.org/content/article/why-top-economist-discounts-trump-s-claim-u-s-jobs-data-are-rigged
5 months ago
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GOP appropriators oppose 15% cap on indirect cost rates and tell Trump to work with research community on a better approach
www.science.org/content/arti...
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Congressional panels resist White House proposals for sharp cuts in indirect cost rates
Three spending panels say a 15% cap isnât the right answer to nagging concerns about how universities are reimbursed
https://www.science.org/content/article/congressional-panels-resist-white-house-proposals-sharp-cuts-indirect-cost-rates
5 months ago
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Nobody likes the current system for paying indirect costs. But the new proposed model being pitched to Congress and OMB also took a beating this week.
www.science.org/content/arti...
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U.S. research community says new indirect cost model is still too complicated
Proposed changes to avert huge cuts in reimbursement get pushback at town hall
https://www.science.org/content/article/u-s-research-community-says-new-indirect-cost-model-still-too-complicated
5 months ago
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It's too early to take to the bank, but the Senate may come to the rescue of researchers whose NSF grants were cancelled
www.science.org/content/arti...
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Senate panel raises hopes that NSF will restore killed grants
Republicans promise to work with Democrats to salvage defeated amendment
https://www.science.org/content/article/senate-panel-raises-hopes-nsf-will-restore-killed-grants
5 months ago
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Can't get enough of the status of research in the FY2026 budget? Here's the latest from the House.
www.science.org/content/arti...
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Congressional spending panels continue to push back against proposed Trump research cuts
House committees give a real boost to DOE science and shrink size of cuts to NSF and NASA science
https://www.science.org/content/article/congressional-spending-panels-continue-push-back-against-proposed-trump-research-cuts
5 months ago
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In advance of tomorrow's town hall, here's the real story of what universities are hoping to gain from a new way to calculate indirect costs
www.science.org/content/arti...
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https://www.science.org/content/article/analysis-will-government-hike-indirect-cost-payments-return-greater-accountability
5 months ago
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One small step... Senate appropriators indicate they plan to protect NSF and NASA science from Trump's drastic cuts.
www.science.org/content/arti...
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Senate spending panel would rescue NSF and NASA science funding
Its support for a flat budget is a sign of congressional resistance to drastic cuts Trump has proposed
https://www.science.org/content/article/senate-spending-panel-would-rescue-nsf-and-nasa-science-funding
6 months ago
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House Dems hold a poster session for politicians (although few came)
www.science.org/content/arti...
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Democrats stage a science fair of canceled grants to show whatâs been lost
Partisan fight over Trump cuts heats up as Congress works on 2026 spending bills.
https://www.science.org/content/article/democrats-stage-science-fair-canceled-grants-show-what-s-been-lost
6 months ago
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NSF has awarded 500 more graduate fellowships, but at what cost to the program?
www.science.org/content/arti...
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Prestigious NSF graduate fellowship tilts toward AI and quantum
Students in the life sciences are shut out of latest cohort of 500 fellows
https://www.science.org/content/article/prestigious-nsf-graduate-fellowship-tilts-toward-ai-and-quantum
6 months ago
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NAS President Marcia McNutt says deep Trump cuts provided the "trigger" to restructure the National Research Council
www.science.org/content/arti...
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U.S. National Academies adopts new business model to weather a financial storm
Realignment of major program units aims to improve efficiency and make up for loss of federal contracts
https://www.science.org/content/article/u-s-national-academies-adopts-new-business-model-weather-financial-storm
6 months ago
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Can US researchers stave off huge cuts to indirect cost payments by convincing Congress and the White House there's a better way? Tomorrow an academic coalition outlines a "fairer" and "more transparent" system that reimburses for the full cost of research.
www.science.org/content/arti...
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U.S. academics call for reforms in research overhead payments, hoping to avoid drastic cuts
Coalition offers two models it says increase accountability and reflect the âtrue costsâ of research
https://www.science.org/content/article/u-s-academics-call-reforms-research-overhead-payments-hoping-avoid-drastic-cuts
6 months ago
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Exclusive: Confusion over new DEI language from NSF and NIH leads Williams College to be first institution to pause accepting any grants
www.science.org/content/arti...
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U.S. college is first to decline federal science grants because of new DEI language
Williams College says NSF and NIH requirement related to discrimination âunderminesâ academic freedom
https://www.science.org/content/article/u-s-college-first-decline-federal-science-grants-because-new-dei-language
7 months ago
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Tired of the math wars? The US National Academies is standing up a new panel that holds to negotiate a truce over how best to teach the subject
www.science.org/content/arti...
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New National Academies board will wade into math wars
Gates Foundation grant enables cash-strapped body to create unit seeking to bridge gap between mathematicians and math educators
https://www.science.org/content/article/new-national-academies-board-will-wade-math-wars
7 months ago
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Trump's detailed vision for NSF's 2026 budget is not a pretty picture.
www.science.org/content/arti...
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Final NSF budget proposal jettisons one giant telescope amid savage agencywide cuts
Trumpâs 57% proposed cut to agency would drop grant success rates to 7% and gut education and training
https://www.science.org/content/article/final-nsf-budget-proposal-jettisons-one-giant-telescope-amid-savage-agencywide-cuts
7 months ago
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After 73 years, is NSF's graduate research fellowship program circling the drain?
www.science.org/content/arti...
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Will NSFâs flagship training program survive under Trump?
Despite 50 Nobelists and 75,000 alumni, NSFâs graduate research fellows could be a vanishing breed
https://www.science.org/content/article/will-nsf-s-flagship-training-program-survive-under-trump
7 months ago
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Gold standard or fools' gold?
www.science.org/content/arti...
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What does Trumpâs call for âgold standard scienceâ really mean?
Critics worry new executive order allows political appointees to determine how science is used in policy decisions
https://www.science.org/content/article/what-does-trump-s-call-gold-standard-science-really-mean
7 months ago
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A poignant picture: NSF staff overcome obstacles to mark agency's 75th anniversary.
www.science.org/content/arti...
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Is a photo subversive? NSF staff overcome obstacles to 75th anniversary portrait
Management tried to quash outpouring of support for beleaguered agency
https://www.science.org/content/article/photo-subversive-nsf-staff-overcome-obstacles-75th-anniversary-portrait
7 months ago
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Michael Kratsios chose the National Academy's august setting to proscribe some bitter medicine for US researchers
www.science.org/content/arti...
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Trumpâs science adviser defends funding cuts as a chance to ârevitalizeâ U.S. science
Michael Kratsios says DEI has led to a loss of public trust in universities
https://www.science.org/content/article/trump-s-science-adviser-defends-funding-cuts-chance-revitalize-u-s-science
7 months ago
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And here's more on Alondra Nelson's bombshell announcement today:
www.science.org/content/arti...
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NSF board member resigns in protest of Trump policies at agency
Alondra Nelson fingers DOGE in taking an unprecedented step
https://www.science.org/content/article/nsf-board-member-resigns-protest-trump-policies-agency
7 months ago
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For those having a hard time following all the changes to NSF by the Trump administration, here's a wrapup of the past week's momentous events--and what they mean for the agency.
www.science.org/content/arti...
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Trump officials take steps toward a radically different NSF
Efforts to shrink staff, budget, and focus have alarmed members of Congress
https://www.science.org/content/article/trump-officials-take-steps-toward-radically-different-nsf
7 months ago
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NSF downgrades role of rotators and designates priority research areas
www.science.org/content/arti...
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NSF slashes number of ârotatorsâ and well-paid managers as part of restructuring
Smaller future budgets will require fewer people, NSF official tells staff
https://www.science.org/content/article/nsf-slashes-number-rotators-and-well-paid-managers-part-restructuring
8 months ago
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Things are going from bad to worse at NSF;
www.science.org/content/arti...
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Exclusive: NSF faces radical shake-up as officials abolish its 37 divisions
Changes seen as a response to presidential directives on what research to fund
https://www.science.org/content/article/exclusive-nsf-faces-radical-shake-officials-abolish-its-37-divisions
8 months ago
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Academic researchers are hoping that a third time is not a charm for NSF:
www.science.org/content/arti...
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NSF becomes third U.S. science agency to propose smaller overhead payments to universities
Courts have blocked attempts by NIH and DOE to impose a flat 15% rate for reimbursement
https://www.science.org/content/article/nsf-becomes-third-u-s-science-agency-propose-smaller-overhead-payments-universities
8 months ago
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For a wrapup of how federal research agencies would fare under Trump's proposed budget for FY2026, keep reading:
www.science.org/content/arti...
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Trumpâs proposed budget would mean âdisastrousâ cuts to science
Key research budgets would shrink by one-third to one-half in 2026 spending plan
https://www.science.org/content/article/trump-s-proposed-budget-would-mean-disastrous-cuts-science
8 months ago
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The rest of the operating expenses, which are trimmed by $94M "because of the agency's reduced size." Stay tuned for an update.
8 months ago
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FY25 appropriation was $9.06B. That included $7.18B for research account, and $1.17B for education. Then Trump eliminated $234M for MREFC, leaving NSF with $8.73B for FY25. His FY26 request for both research and education totals $3.74B....
8 months ago
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Trump has proposed cutting NSF's budget by more than half, to $4B, in FY 2026. The math in his "skinny" budget request is hard to follow, so here's a quick analysis:
8 months ago
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GOP and Dem senate appropriators go to bat for NIH--but they may not have enough sway;
www.science.org/content/arti...
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Senators from both parties criticize Trumpâs moves against NIH
Spending panel wants his policies reversedâbut it may not have sufficient clout to succeed
https://www.science.org/content/article/senators-both-parties-criticize-trump-s-moves-against-nih
8 months ago
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