Dear %%First Name%%,

This week, the remaining U.S. federal appropriations bills that fund the bulk of the nation’s R&D enterprise for fiscal year 2026 were signed into law. Thanks to bipartisan champions in Congress, cuts proposed by the administration to research and development were not realized. Furthermore, funding remains relatively stable, even when compared to past U.S. administrations. Despite this result, we must remain vigilant to counter strategies that could prevent federal agencies from fully spending appropriated funds. Check out the AAAS R&D Budget and Policy Program report and our posts on LinkedIn and Instagram for final results for R&D-intensive agencies.

AAAS was hard at work last year mitigating targeted and collateral damage to the scientific enterprise. These efforts—both public and behind the scenes— were made possible by unprecedented philanthropic support from within our community and beyond. See how your contributions and involvement helped AAAS act with leadership and resolve in our 2025 Annual Report. And the story is still being written. As we step fully into 2026, we remain on the frontlines shoring up science in the U.S., protecting international relationships, and advancing research for a brighter future.

Each year, we look forward to bringing our community together through the AAAS Annual Meeting, coming up in Phoenix from February 12-14. Among the exciting sessions we have planned will be a screening of the documentary “Starman,” a visually stunning retelling of Gentry Lee’s experiences as a pioneer in space exploration. The Scientist Network for Advancing Policy (SNAP) will offer a direct look at how early career scientists are mobilizing to ensure science is always at the table in the policymaking process. I hope to see many of you there.

Before I sign off, I came across a piece of news I think you’ll find fascinating and hopeful. It turns out that not only do sensory neurons alert our brains when we break a bone, they also step in to lead bone repair.

Sudip S. Parikh, Ph.D. 
Chief Executive Officer, AAAS  
Executive Publisher, Science Journals