Trump EO Strips Protections from 8,000 Federal Workers
On June 3, President Trump released an executive order (EO) converting around 8,000 federal workers to at-will employees, stripping them of protections meant to insulate them from politicization of the federal workforce. The EO, a revitalized version of his 2019 …
Nominee for OMB Deputy Director Testifies in Senate Committees
On June 16 and 17, Harold “Hal” Duncan, the nominee for Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) — the second-most powerful position at the agency — testified before both the Senate Committee on the Budget and …
OMB Releases Concerning “Regulation for Federal Financial Assistance”
On May 29, 2026, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) released “Regulation for Federal Financial Assistance.” The proposed changes would dramatically alter how the federal government of the United States administers over $60 billion in federal research programs and …
House LHHS Bill Provides Level Funding for NIH and ARPA-H, but Slashes IES Budget
On June 9, the House Appropriations Committee (HAC) approved its Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education (LHHS) bill for fiscal year 2027 (FY27) in a party-line vote, 34 to 28. The bill covers funding for key federal science agencies, …
NIH Directors Discuss FY27 Funding in Front of Senate LHHS Subcommittee
On May 21, the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education (LHHS) held a hearing to review the administration’s Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) budget request for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, Director …
Outgoing NAS President Marcia McNutt Addresses the State of Science
On June 2, the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) hosted its third annual State of the Science Address to assess the U.S. research enterprise, global science leadership, and economic competitiveness. Outgoing NAS President Marcia McNutt, PhD, gave her final address, …
