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

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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