News
NSF & NASA Budgets; Antisemitism Hearing; Research Security
BU IN DC
Noel Vest of the School of Public Health addressed a Capitol Hill briefing organized by the Friends of the National Institute on Drug Abuse on "Advancing the Science of Addiction Recovery" on July 17th. Vest also discussed his research on substance use recovery with the offices of Representatives Lori Trahan (D-MA), Stephen Lynch (D-MA), and Lisa McClain (R-MI).
Tim Hirschel-Burns of the Global Development Policy Center participated in a meeting of the US-Africa Policy Working Group convened by Congresswoman Ilhan Omar (D-MN) on July 17th. The group discussed debt sustainability in Africa.
CONGRESS SIGNALS DISAGREEMENT WITH TRUMP CUTS TO NSF, NASA
The House and Senate Appropriations Committees recently released fiscal year 2026 spending bills that do not align with the steep cuts to the National Science Foundation (NSF) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) proposed by the Trump Administration, demonstrating that policymakers are not inclined to accept the President's budget recommendations for the agencies. The Senate committee proposes to give both NSF and NASA's Science account the same level of funding they currently receive, in contrast with the President's proposal to cut their funding by 56% and 50%, respectively. The House committee has proposed a 23% cut to NSF and an 18% cut to NASA's science activities. Lawmakers will need to negotiate and approve a compromise bill to finalize the budget numbers. In the likely event that Congress does not approve spending bills before the September 30th statutory deadline, a continuing resolution will be necessary to keep the government operational.
HOUSE COMMITTEE HOLDS ANOTHER CAMPUS ANTISEMITISM HEARING
On Tuesday, the House Education and Workforce Committee held a hearing titled “Antisemitism in Higher Education: Examining the Role of Faculty, Funding, and Ideology” featuring the leaders of Georgetown University, The City University of New York, and the University of California, Berkeley. Committee Republicans asked university leaders to discipline specific faculty and staff for their social media posts and events; pointed to the role of faculty unions in criticizing Israel; expressed concerns regarding global campuses and foreign donors; and asserted that diversity, equity, and inclusion policies harm Jewish students. Committee Democrats focused on antisemitic statements and social media posts by members of the Trump Administration; the lack of Congressional hearings on racial and other forms of discrimination; and the Trump Administration’s budget and staffing cuts to the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights.
CONGRESS CONSIDERS RESEARCH SECURITY POLICIES
The House and Senate Armed Services Committees have each approved their versions of the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which sets policies at the Department of Defense (DOD). The defense policy bill passed by the House Armed Services Committee would ban gain-of-function research and prohibit DOD from sending funding to universities where an "antisemitic demonstration" has occurred. The Senate Armed Services Committee approved a bill that would prohibit colleges receiving DOD funds from entering into contracts with certain "foreign entities of concern." It would also create an incubator program to enable colleges to facilitate the development of innovative technologies that meet national security needs. Both chambers will have the opportunity to modify the bills once they are scheduled for floor consideration.
Elise Morgan Named BU College of Engineering Dean
Longtime faculty member who served as dean ad interim for two years assumes permanent leadership role.
Vatican Commission, Kids Screen Time, Supreme Court
FACULTY EXPERTS
BU Experts Served on Vatican Commission Urging Global Debt Relief
Kevin Gallagher, Marina Zucker-Marques, and Marilou Uy of the BU Global Development Policy Center served on the Jubilee Commission, which issued a report saying debt-strapped developing nations need help.
COMMUNITY RESOURCE
Learning Through Screen Time
Consultants for PBS KIDS programming—BU Wheelock Professors Nermeen Dashoush and V. Scott Solberg, and alumna Deborah Farmer Kris (Wheelock’98, CAS’98)—explain why informal education is more important than ever.
RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT
Sweating for Science: School of Public Health Measures Heat Where Bostonians Work, Play, and Live
As the summer heat intensifies in Boston, teams of BU School of Public Health researchers have deployed a variety of sensors across the city to assess heat exposure among vulnerable residents and evaluate cooling interventions.
THOUGHT LEADERS
In Case You Missed It...
BU announced budget cuts and layoffs amid financial pressures... In The Boston Globe, BU Wheelock College of Education & Human Development Dean Penny Bishop warns that middle grade students could lose essential supports as school districts consolidate campuses... The Cato Institute published research by BU economists Raymond Fisman and Jetson Leder-Luis indicating that revolving door laws reduce the number of candidates and increase incumbents' win rates... The BU Campus Climate Lab is using native plants to help reduce carbon emissions... Deborah Carr of the College of Arts & Sciences explains why we keep watching reality dating shows.
Graduate Loans; NSF Input; NASA Administrator
BU IN DC
Naomi Caselli of Wheelock College of Education & Human Development participated in a Capitol Hill event highlighting terminated federal research grants hosted by the House Science Committee Minority on July 8th. Caselli also met with several Congressional offices to discuss her research on deaf children's language acquisition.
NEW LAW CAPS GRADUATE LENDING, CREATES COLLEGE ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURES
Last week, President Donald J. Trump signed into law a bill that will modify federal student aid options for graduate students, with most changes becoming effective on July 1, 2026. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (Public Law 119-21) institutes lifetime limits on graduate and professional student loans of $100,000 and $200,000, respectively; the law also eliminates graduate PLUS loans. The measure establishes a new earnings accountability metric for colleges: degree programs must demonstrate that their undergraduate alumni earn more than individuals with a high school diploma, and their graduate alumni earn more than those with a bachelor's degree. While the law also establishes a tiered endowment excise tax with rates as high as 8% for some colleges, Boston University will remain exempt from the endowment tax.
NSF SOLICITS FEEDBACK ON BREAKTHROUGH INNOVATION INITIATIVE
The National Science Foundation (NSF) Technology, Innovation, and Partnership (TIP) Directorate is collecting comments on the establishment of a new Breakthrough Innovation Initiative Application process. The agency plans to create an abbreviated grant submission procedure for researchers who want to apply “unconventional approaches to create game-changing technologies and translate discoveries into tangible applications and products.” The approach is modeled after the German Federal Agency for Breakthrough Innovation (SPRIND) Challenge system, which aims to accelerate timelines and emphasize the translation of high-risk, high-reward ideas. Stakeholders are asked to submit comments by September 2nd.
BUZZ BITS...
- President Donald J. Trump announced Thursday that Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy will serve as NASA's interim leader. In May, the President withdrew Jared Isaacman's nomination to lead the agency; the White House has not named a new nominee.
- Last week, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) published its 2025-2030 NIH Strategic Plan for Data Science. The plan includes goals for greater integration of data science into biomedical research, support for software tools and computational models, and strengthening training opportunities.
- The National Science Foundation (NSF) is soliciting input on the key technology focus areas for the NSF Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (TIP) Directorate. Stakeholders are asked to provide feedback by July 21st on whether the TIP's current ten priority areas, including artificial intelligence, biotechnology, natural disaster prevention, robotics, and advanced communications technology, should be modified.
What Are PFAS? And Could Fiber Supplements Help Remove Them from Our Bodies?
BU study suggests common dietary supplement could decrease levels of the forever chemicals.
Brink Bites: Prescribing Cheaper Energy Bills and the Bible’s Agricultural Connections
Other research news, stories, and tidbits from around BU, including a program to cut hospital patients’ energy costs, the environmental context of biblical parables, and lots of awards.
Sweating for Science: SPH Measures Heat Where Bostonians Work, Play, and Live
As the summer heat intensifies in Boston, teams of SPH researchers have deployed a variety of sensors across the city to assess heat exposure among vulnerable residents and evaluate cooling interventions.
BU Experts Served on Vatican Commission Urging Global Debt Relief
Debt-strapped developing nations need help, says Jubilee Year report, backed by Pope Leo XIV.
F&A Lawsuits; Grant Terminations; Gold Standard Science
BU IN DC
Brian Walsh of the College of Engineering and fellow members of the American Geophysical Union met with Congressional offices to discuss the importance of investing in heliophysics research on June 17th.
Helen Tager-Flusberg of the College of Arts & Sciences talked with lawmakers about autism research on June 17th and June 18th.
JUDGES BLOCK NSF, DOD CUTS TO RESEARCH REIMBURSEMENT
Last week, a federal judge ruled that the National Science Foundation's (NSF) 15% cap on reimbursements for facilities & administrative (F&A) costs is unlawful. As a result, NSF will not implement the cap. The agency indicated it would implement the cap, though, "if a subsequent court decision permits application of the policy." A different federal judge has halted the Department of Defense's (DOD) plan to implement a similar 15% cap, due to a lawsuit brought by the American Association of Universities and others. BU supported the NSF and DOD lawsuits. Proposed F&A caps for grants issued by the National Institutes of Health and Department of Energy are also on hold due to lawsuits.
CONGRESS QUESTIONS ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS ON GRANT TERMINATIONS, RESEARCH CUTS
During hearings on Capitol Hill this week, Members of Congress from both sides of the aisle questioned the Trump Administration's proposed budget cuts at science agencies, caps on reimbursement to colleges for facilities and administrative (F&A) costs, and grant terminations. On Wednesday, Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN) asked White House Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought to work with Congress on properly reimbursing grantees for F&A costs "that are mission critical to research." Vought replied that he had met with many university leaders to discuss the Administration's attempt to cap F&A reimbursements to colleges and will work with Congress on a solution. Democrats on the House Energy and Commerce Committee rebuked Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for the Trump Administration's proposed cuts to the NIH budget and termination of existing NIH grants during a hearing on Tuesday.
BUZZ BITS...
- Last Friday, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy issued a memorandum directing federal agencies to implement the President's “Gold Standard Science” executive order by August 22nd. The memo suggests artificial intelligence can be used to support the effort with “automated tools for validating reproducible protocols, standardizing transparent data reporting, quantifying uncertainty, facilitating interdisciplinary collaboration, detecting biases in peer and merit review, and managing conflict-of-interest disclosures.”
- The U.S. Senate is poised to vote on a tax package this weekend that would curtail federal lending options for graduate students and expand the endowment excise tax on certain universities. BU would not be subject to the tax. The U.S. House of Representatives passed a different version of the tax bill earlier this month; both chambers would need to reach an agreement on a final bill before it could be sent to the President.
- On Wednesday, Republicans on the House Education and the Workforce Committee approved the Accreditation Choice and Innovation Act, which would require accreditors to measure colleges on additional standards related to student outcomes, such as median price versus value-added earnings. It would also allow colleges to change accreditors without the approval of the U.S. Department of Education.
A NOTE TO OUR READERS
Due to the federal holiday, Beltway BUzz will not publish next Friday. Please check our website or the University's federal actions page for updates.