News
ED Restructuring; Government Reopening; Defense Research
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ANNOUNCES STRUCTURAL CHANGES
As part of its plan to "dismantle" the Department of Education (ED), the Trump Administration announced on Tuesday it would use interagency agreements to move oversight of certain ED activities to other federal agencies. Among other changes, the Department of Labor (DOL) would assume responsibility for college preparatory programs like TRIO and GEAR UP, and the Department of State would oversee work currently performed by ED's International and Foreign Language Education office. Federal law prohibits the elimination of the Department of Education; however, interagency agreements may allow the Administration to functionally reduce the size of the agency without eradicating its programs. Earlier this year, the Administration used an interagency agreement to move career and technical education programs from ED to DOL.
BUZZ BITS...
- Following the reopening of the federal government last week, the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation shared their plans to resume operations, reschedule peer review activities, and revise submission deadlines.
- On Monday, the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering announced the Department of Defense will prioritize six critical technology areas: Applied Artificial Intelligence, Biomanufacturing, Contested Logistics Technologies, Quantum and Battlefield Information Dominance, Scaled Directed Energy, and Scaled Hypersonics.
- The House Education and Workforce Committee held a hearing this week on "The Future of College: Harnessing Innovation to Improve Outcomes and Lower Costs." Lawmakers and witnesses discussed the role of artificial intelligence, the flexibility offered by online programs, the importance of partnering with employers to meet workforce needs, the value of research investments at the Institute of Education Sciences, efforts to address students' basic needs, and the issue of college affordability.
EVENT NEWS YOU CAN USE
Slides and a recording are now available from the “Strategies for Pursuing Department of Defense (DOD) Funding” webinar hosted by the Office of Research and Federal Relations earlier this month. Lewis-Burke Associates LLC, a Washington, DC-based consulting firm, provided an overview of key DOD funding opportunities, guidance on building relationships with program managers, strategies for demonstrating the national security relevance of your research, and practical steps for successfully pursuing DOD funding. Faculty Alexander Green of the College of Engineering, Maria Kamenetska of the College of Arts & Sciences, and Jennifer Schlezinger of the School of Public Health shared insights learned from their experiences successfully securing DOD research grants.
A Note to Our Readers: Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, Beltway BUzz will temporarily pause publication. We wish you a joyous holiday! Be sure to visit our website, follow us on LinkedIn, or check the University's Federal Actions page for updates.
BU Neuroscientist’s “Riveting Debut” Book Discusses “How to Change a Memory”
Steve Ramirez draws on research and his own life for insights into the science of remembering, including creating false memories.
Georgia US Senator Rev. Raphael Warnock Preaches Against Inequality at Marsh Chapel 75th Anniversary Service
BU President Melissa Gilliam echoes call for inclusivity and finding common humanity.
Women Veterans, Science Leaders, Better Clinicians
FACULTY EXPERT
BU Researcher Helps Women Veterans Find Their Place After Serving Their Country
BU Professor Tara Galovski started the Women Veterans Network (WoVeN) in 2017 with six participants. Now, 6,500 women have joined from all 50 states and Puerto Rico.
See how she is fostering meaningful connections
RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT
National Science Foundation Honors 6 BU Researchers with CAREER Awards
Recognition as rising stars from the NSF will support projects on safer robots, more trustworthy healthcare AI, and other computer science–infused innovations.
COMMUNITY RESOURCE
Two New Visual Arts Programs Help Boston Medical Center Residents and Fellows Hone Their Skills as Clinicians
The programs offer a novel approach that uses art to improve clinical diagnoses and help physicians become comfortable with ambiguity.
THOUGHT LEADERS
In Case You Missed It...
BU Tanglewood Institute, a musical education program for high school students, will celebrate its 60th anniversary... Framingham Heart Study Director Donald M. Lloyd-Jones talked to Time about ways to stay healthy as you age... Steve Ramirez of the BU College of Arts & Sciences details how his work as a neuroscientist helps him recover from addiction in STAT... Richard Currie of the BU School of Hospitality Administration discusses his research on workplace nosiness on the Brain for Business podcast... Kathryn Coduto of the BU College of Communication explains why "phubbing," or phone snubbing, could be harming your relationships to WGBH.
10 Ways BU Researchers Could Revolutionize Cancer Care
Researchers across Boston University are working on innovative and potentially lifesaving projects that could transform cancer prevention, treatment, and care. We picked 10 that bring hope for the future.
With New Technology and Innovative Treatments, BU Cancer Research Is Saving Lives
Boston University researchers are leading the fight against cancer with tests that detect the disease earlier, effective medicines that extend patients’ lives, and other breakthroughs that help more people get lifesaving care.
Government Reopens; NIH Leaders; AI & Education
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT REOPENS
On Wednesday, the longest government shutdown in United States history ended after 43 days, as the President signed into law a spending package that funds the Department of Agriculture, Food and Drug Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, and legislative branch agencies through fiscal year 2026. The new law maintains other agencies' current funding levels through January 30th, providing lawmakers with two and a half months to complete work on the remaining spending bills that set the federal budget. The agreement also reversed the federal layoffs initiated by the White House during the shutdown and prevents further reductions in force through early next year.
NIH SEEKS INSTITUTE AND CENTER LEADERS
Last week, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced it is seeking personnel for key leadership roles. Among other positions, the agency is seeking permanent leaders for the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, and National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Currently, eleven NIH institutes and centers are led by interim leaders. Applications will be accepted through late November.
GRANT NEWS YOU CAN USE
On Monday, the Department of Education released a notice inviting applications for the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education – Special Projects (FIPSE-SP) program. The competition identifies four national priority areas: advancing the understanding and use of artificial intelligence (AI) in higher education, promoting civil discourse on university campuses, supporting accreditation reform, and building capacity for high-quality short-term programs. Applications are due no later than December 3rd, and the Department intends to issue awards before the end of the year.
National Science Foundation Honors 6 BU Researchers with CAREER Awards
Recognition as rising stars from the NSF will support projects on safer robots, more trustworthy healthcare AI, and other computer science–infused innovations.
BU Engineers Are Helping to Bring Semiconductor Production Back to the US
Researcher Ayse Coskun talks about how the University is well positioned to help the nation stay on top of chip technology.
NASA Leader; College Costs; Thought Leadership
BU IN DC
School of Public Health (SPH) Dean Adnan Hyder and members of the SPH community attended the 2025 American Public Health Association Meeting & Expo between November 2nd and 5th. Dean Hyder also hosted an Alumni & Friends reception on November 3rd.
Senior Vice President and General Counsel Erika Geetter participated in the Association of American Universities General Counsels Annual Meeting between November 2nd and 4th.
BUZZ BITS...
On Wednesday, the federal government shutdown became the longest in U.S. history. In other news:
- On Tuesday, President Donald J. Trump announced that he intends to re-nominate investor Jared Isaacman as NASA Administrator. In May, Trump withdrew Isaacman's previous nomination and placed Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy in charge of the agency. Isaacman has proposed a significant reorganization of NASA and aims to "get some of that $1 trillion in university endowments into the fight, alongside NASA, to further science and discovery." The U.S. Senate will need to approve his nomination before he can assume the role.
- The Navy confirmed that Dr. Rachel Riley is the new leader of the Office of Naval Research, replacing Rear Admiral Kurt Rothenhaus. Riley previously worked on cost-cutting initiatives at the Department of Health and Human Services through her role with the Department of Government Efficiency.
- The Department of Education (ED) concluded the second and final negotiated rulemaking session focused on implementing the federal graduate student lending changes enacted by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed into law this summer. Participants coalesced around a narrow definition of "professional degree" that would exclude many programs of study from qualifying for a new $50,000 annual student loan limit. ED plans to solicit stakeholder feedback on a proposed rule and issue final regulations in time for the new loan limits to take effect in 2026.
SENATE HOLDS HEARING ON FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY IN HIGHER ED
The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions held a hearing titled "Reforming Financial Transparency in Higher Education" on Thursday. Lawmakers and witnesses called for reforms to help families more easily compare college costs, including improvements to financial aid offer letters and net price calculators offered by colleges, as well as updates to the federal government's College Scorecard website. Committee Chairman Bill Cassidy (R-LA) touted his College Transparency Act, coauthored with Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA). Cassidy had previously requested public feedback on improving transparency around college cost and value.
EVENT NEWS YOU CAN USE
The Office of Research and Public Relations are hosting "Strategic Communications: Crafting Impactful Thought Leadership" on Thursday, November 13th at 1 p.m. Join Kevin Anselmo from Experiential Communications for this 90-minute Zoom workshop that focuses on helping participants translate their messaging strategy into compelling written content that drives influence and visibility. This session will help you discover how to use the power of thought leadership and learn how you might be able to leverage digital platforms like Substack, LinkedIn, The Conversation or other online blogs.