Dear Member, 

The past couple weeks have been tough ones for science in the United States, with repercussions that will be felt around the world. The instability resulting from the firing of U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director Susan Monarez has left the country without critical public health leadership. The Administration has moved to cap the duration of student visas at four years. And, as reported in Science, the Supreme Court has upheld the cancellation of $783 million in NIH grants. 

Against this unfavorable backdrop, the U.S. Congress has until September 30 to pass a federal budget or a continuing resolution for fiscal year 2026 to prevent a government shutdown. Before this looming deadline, science agencies must release billions of dollars in congressionally approved funds for the current fiscal year. The next four weeks are critical, and the outcomes will have substantial impacts on the research enterprise that will reverberate well beyond America’s shores and for decades into the future.  

At AAAS, we are speaking powerfully and strategically on behalf of science and building awareness about the impact of policy and funding decisions—and helping our members do the same. For U.S.-based members, our resources can help explain the complicated annual budget cycle and help navigate conversations with lawmakers. Check out the AAAS FY 2026 R&D Appropriations House Report and Senate Report.

Another issue of critical importance is how we support the infrastructure that makes research possible. The Facilities & Administrative costs model for calculating “indirect costs” is under intense and rightful scrutiny. The Joint Association Group (JAG) on Indirect Costs has developed an alternative approach that aims to be more simple, transparent, and fair. AAAS held two virtual town hall sessions with JAG Chair Kelvin Droegemeier, former director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, to get the community up to speed and solicit feedback on JAG’s proposed Financial Accountability in Research (FAIR) Model. The more the community can speak with one voice, the more likely we are to secure a lasting solution with the support of Congress. To learn more, view the August 13 and August 21 sessions, and access resources and contact JAG.

Despite all of these challenges, we must continue to celebrate breakthroughs that demonstrate to our people and to the world that American science is anything but stagnant. This week, AAAS recognized two federally funded research teams whose fundamental research unexpectedly led to improvements in disease diagnostics and a treatment for testicular cancer. I hope you will tune in to the 2025 Golden Goose Award at 5:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday, September 16 to celebrate these awardees.