News

NIH Leaders; AI; Science & Humanities Budgets

BU in DC

Faculty at the BU School of Social Work are presenting their research at the 2026 Society for Social Work Research Annual Conference from January 15th to January 18th.

NIH ANNOUNCES LEADERSHIP TRANSITIONS

• Dr. Gary H. Gibbons will retire from his role as the director of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) after 14 years. Beginning on January 31st, NHLBI Deputy Director David Goff will serve as acting NHLBI director.
• NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya announced on Wednesday that Dr. Nicole Kleinstreuer has been named the NIH Deputy Director for Program Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives. She has served as the Acting Deputy Director since April 16th, overseeing cross-NIH activities such as the NIH Common Fund, data science, and behavioral science, and working to promote the use of non-animal models in research.

HOUSE HEARINGS HIGHLIGHT OPPORTUNITIES AND RISKS WITH AI

On Tuesday, both the House Education and the Workforce Committee and a subcommittee of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee held hearings on artificial intelligence. White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Director Michael Kratsios testified before the Subcommittee on Research and Technology on "Advancing America’s AI Action Plan." He touted the potential for the Administration's Genesis Mission to accelerate scientific progress through the use of AI, while emphasizing the need for robust infrastructure and data centers. At the "Building an AI-Ready America" hearing, lawmakers discussed how AI could be used in both K-12 and higher education to personalize curriculum, develop talent, and boost productivity and economic growth. Both Democrats and Republicans emphasized the importance of protecting students' data.

BUZZ BITS...

• Yesterday, the U.S. Senate approved a package of fiscal year 2026 spending bills that reject the Trump Administration's proposed cuts to science at the Department of Energy, National Science Foundation, and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), as well as the proposed elimination of the National Endowments for the Arts and Humanities. The President is expected to sign the package, which was approved by the U.S. House of Representatives last week.
• On Wednesday, the House approved a spending bill that directs the White House not to implement any changes in how universities are reimbursed for facilities and administrative costs related to research. An earlier Trump Administration proposal to make changes to research reimbursement is currently on hold due to a lawsuit. The Senate is expected to approve the spending bill later this month.
• Last week, negotiators at a U.S. Department of Education rulemaking session reached an agreement on a plan to implement new accountability metrics for undergraduate and graduate programs. The Department will request public comment on the framework, which would limit federal student loans to bachelor's degree programs that demonstrate their graduates earn more than individuals with a high school diploma and graduate programs whose alumni earn more than individuals with bachelor's degrees. The Department aims to institute the new metrics in time for the 2026-2027 academic year.

NSF, NASA, DOE, and NEH; New Leaders; Microelectronics

BU in DC

Will you be in Washington, DC, this year? Let us know -- we'd love to highlight your visit.

HOUSE REJECTS ADMINISTRATION'S PROPOSED CUTS TO SCIENCE, HUMANITIES

On Thursday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a package of fiscal year 2026 spending bills that reject the Trump Administration's proposed cuts to science and cultural agencies. The measures will slightly increase the Department of Energy's (DOE) science budget, maintain the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) science budget at its current level, and decrease the National Science Foundation's (NSF) budget by 3.4%. Earlier this year, the Trump Administration had proposed cutting NSF by 57%, NASA Science by 47%, and the DOE Office of Science by 14%. The bills will maintain funding for the National Endowments for the Arts and Humanities at $207 million each, in contrast to the Administration's plan to eliminate both agencies. The U.S. Senate is expected to approve the House-passed bills later this month. Congress is still crafting a final set of fiscal year 2026 spending bills for the Departments of Health and Human Services, Education, and Defense.

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NEW LEADERS AT NASA, DOD, NIH, AND NEA

Several federal agencies have new leadership, including:

• Jared Isaacman was sworn in as the 15th administrator of NASA on December 18th after the U.S. Senate approved his nomination by a vote of 67 to 30. Isaacman is an entrepreneur and pilot.
• Mary Anne Carter returns as the chair of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), following approval by the U.S. Senate on December 18th. Carter held the same role between 2019 and 2021.
• Assistant Secretary for Defense for Science and Technology Joseph Jewell and Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering James Mazol were confirmed to roles at the Department of Defense (DOD) by the Senate on December 18th. Dr. Jewell is a hypersonics and aerospace research scholar who has held roles at Purdue University and the Air Force Research Laboratory. Mazol previously oversaw science and technology policy for the Senate Armed Services Committee.
• Dr. Amy Adams will serve as acting director of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) following the departure of current director Dr. Walter Koroshetz on January 24th. Leaders at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services declined to reappoint Koroshetz to a third term as NINDS director.
• Dr. Shawn Domagal-Goldman is the acting director of the Astrophysics Division of the NASA Science Mission Directorate. He replaces Dr. Sandra Cauffman, who retired in December after more than two decades with the agency.

GRANT NEWS YOU CAN USE

"Microelectronics: Landscape of Federal Research and Policy Priorities" is now available to members of the BU community on the Federal Relations website. The primer from Lewis-Burke Associates identifies federal priorities, funding investments, and engagement opportunities relevant to research, education, and workforce organizations working to advance microelectronics. The document identifies funding opportunities at the National Science Foundation, Department of Energy, and Department of Defense and analyzes changes to the Commerce Department's approach to microelectronics.

Read the primer

Defense Research; Genesis Mission; Financial Aid

BU in DC

The CARB-X Joint Oversight Board met in Washington, DC, on December 11th.

HOUSE PASSES DEFENSE POLICY BILL

On Wednesday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the National Defense Authorization Act, the annual bill that establishes defense policy. The legislation emphasizes artificial intelligence, quantum, and biotechnology as defense research priorities, establishing a Biotechnology Management Office and directing the Department of Defense to create a strategy for emerging biotechnology matters. Notably, the bill does not include measures previously approved by the House that would have significantly limited collaborations between American and international scientists. The U.S. Senate is expected to approve the bill and send it to the President for his signature next week.

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HOUSE SCIENCE COMMITTEE REVIEWS GENESIS MISSION

The House Science, Space, and Technology Committee held a hearing titled "The Genesis Mission: Prioritizing American Science and Technology Leadership Power" on Wednesday. Department of Energy Under Secretary Dario Gil testified about on the Administration's Genesis Mission proposal to invest in artificial intelligence infrastructure as a tool to accelerate scientific progress and U.S. competitiveness. Under Secretary Gil praised the partnership between universities and the federal government, stating that "the university ecosystem that funds and supports science and engineering and educates our students in science and engineering and mathematics is indispensable."

Watch the hearing

HOUSE COMMITTEE APPROVES FINANCIAL AID BILLS

The House Education and Workforce Committee approved legislation to increase transparency around college costs on Thursday. The Student Financial Clarity Act, coauthored by Congresswoman Lori Trahan (D-MA), would create a Universal Net Price Calculator; it was approved by a vote of 27 to 6. The College Financial Aid Clarity Act, which would require universities to use a standard financial aid offer developed by the U.S. Department of Education, was approved by a 23 to 10 vote. The Committee's approval clears the way for the bills to be considered by the full U.S. House of Representatives next year.

A Note to Our Readers: As Congress approaches its District Work Period, Beltway BUzz will temporarily pause publication. Be sure to visit our website, follow us on LinkedIn, or check the University's Federal Actions page for updates. Happy holidays!