Happy Tuesday!
Washington continues to churn with developments at the intersection of science, policy, and national security. Here are a few highlights this week:
From the White House
President Trump and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer signed the Technology Prosperity Deal -- a bilateral memorandum of understanding intended to strengthen cooperation on emerging technologies. The administration also issued new restrictions on certain nonimmigrant worker visas, including H-1Bs, with updated guidance now available from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. These moves underscore how international partnerships and workforce policies are becoming central levers in the global technology race.
Capitol Hill
- The government-funding deadline hits Oct. 1, and the standoff between the White House, congressional Democrats, and Republican leadership is sharpening. Competing continuing resolutions are on the table: Republicans passed a "clean" CR through Nov. 21, while Democrats countered with an Oct. 31 CR tied to major health and spending provisions. Trump is set to meet with Democratic leaders Schumer and Jeffries later this week, adding a volatile new dimension just days before the deadline.
- The House Appropriations Committee released its Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026 on Sept. 16; Senate Democrats introduced their own version on Sept. 17. Both measures are now caught in the broader shutdown brinkmanship.
- Members of the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology introduced a package of bills focused on agricultural biotechnology and security, including the Agriculture and National Security Act, the Synthetic Biology Advancement Act, and the Foundation for Enabling Biotechnology Innovation Act. These signal heightened congressional attention to biotechnology as both an innovation engine and a national security issue.
*INFORMS Advocacy: INFORMS sent a letter to congressional appropriators urging them to protect strong funding for the National Science Foundation (NSF) in the FY26 Commerce, Justice, and Science bill. Our message was clear: NSF funding is not an abstract investment -- it directly fuels the research and innovation that drive U.S. economic competitiveness, national security, and leadership in emerging technologies. NSF supports 25% of all federally funded basic research at U.S. universities, particularly in mathematics, computer science, economics, and the social sciences -- disciplines central to operations research and analytics.
** Take Action: Support NSF Funding
Now is the time to make your voice heard. Consider contacting your Senators and Representative to urge them to support NSF. If you do, tie it back to your own work. Show how the work or research you do strengthens the economy, advances innovation, or contributes to national security. That's the story policymakers need to hear.
You can find contact information here: congress.gov/members/find-your-member.
Federal Agencies
- EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin argued in The Hill that EPA has "a huge role in American AI dominance," pointing to the agency's regulatory and environmental data infrastructure as part of the national AI strategy. Meanwhile, the Department of Education, had new announcements about funding cuts to some programs, and new investments in others.
In the News
- Federal workers urged Democrats to push back against the White House in a letter obtained by Axios.
- A federal judge ruled Trump's mass firings of probationary federal employees illegal but declined to order re-hiring (Government Executive).
- Reuters reported on how the H-1B visa crackdown is upending India's IT industry.
- The Los Angeles Times spotlighted the U.S.–China race to return to the moon.
Upcoming Events
- AAAS webinar: Science & the U.S. Budget Deadline on Sept. 25 (2:30–3:30 pm ET). CEO Sudip Parikh will provide an update on the federal funding outlook, including the current budget landscape, what's ahead, and resources for action. [RSVP here].
What I'm Watching
The common threads this week: a high-stakes government funding fight, deepening focus on biotechnology and AI as strategic assets, and continued pressure on universities as political targets.
For our community, the key is to watch how the shutdown showdown plays out -- not only for its political drama, but for its very real implications on federal science funding and agency operations. A shutdown could delay grant reviews, stall agency programs, and create backlogs that ripple across universities, labs, and research teams.
Best,
Jeff
Reminder – INFORMS members make a difference in Washington and in the media. Please reach out to me at jcohen@informs.org if you are interested in learning about how you can get involved in INFORMS' advocacy and media efforts.
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Jeffrey M. Cohen, MBA | PhD Candidate
Chief Strategy Officer
INFORMS
jcohen@informs.orglinkedin.com/in/jmcsc
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