As we begin a new year and semester, Federal Relations and the Office of Research want to be sure you are aware of University resources available to support you as you plan and submit federal research proposals. With a new administration and Congress about to take office, we’ve heard questions from researchers about potential changes to the federal research funding landscape. While some media reports have speculated on potential shifts – such as agency restructuring, updates to international student policies, and evolving research priorities – the University remains focused on adapting to opportunities and proactive planning to help you navigate any challenges as they arise.
2025 Administration Transition Information & Resources
The University is closely monitoring the situation in Washington and will share updates, including agency notices received, at the link below.
BU Federal Relations is the University’s ear-to-the-ground in Washington, analyzing federal trends and helping the BU community differentiate between political rhetoric and significant government actions. The office monitors funding trends, gathers information on grant opportunities, and works one-on-one with individual investigators to help secure grant support. The office is also available to answer questions about immigration and education policy matters that may affect colleagues in your lab.
We encourage all our researchers to continue applying for grants and conducting research in areas that matter to them. We have seen that even in times of federal budget uncertainty, BU investigators who submit exciting, thoughtful proposals have successfully found the financial support they needed for their work to thrive. We anticipate no substantial changes to the peer-review system that has been the foundation of academic research proposal evaluation for decades, a system that has propelled BU into the ranks of top-tier research institutions.
To help stay current with activities in Washington that may impact your work, we encourage you to visit the Federal Relations website, sign up for the weekly Beltway BUzz newsletter, and follow Federal Relations on LinkedIn for the latest updates. Federal Relations and the Office of Research will continue to co-host workshops on federal funding, including a visit this spring from the National Science Foundation Technology, Innovations, and Partnerships Directorate and a session on collaborating with policymakers.
The University values the long-term scholarly and societal impacts of your research and has many supports in place to minimize disruptions, help you plan thoughtfully for any changes or challenges, and ensure you have the support you need to advance your scholarship and research. Please reach out with any questions and continue to let us know where you see opportunities for us to better support you and your colleagues.