Good evening INFORMS –
Washington is once again staring down a potential government shutdown, with ripple effects for science, research, and federal agencies. Here are a few highlights:
Shutdown Countdown
The White House hosted a summit with congressional leaders today, but negotiations failed to produce a deal. With the tomorrow's deadline upon us, the standoff between the administration, Republicans, and Democrats remains unresolved. Competing spending continuing resolutions are still on the table, and agencies are bracing for disruption. For our community, a shutdown could delay grant reviews, stall agency programs, and create backlogs that ripple across universities, labs, and research teams.
From the White House
Alongside shutdown preparations, OMB and the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) issued their annual FY27 R&D budget priorities memo, outlining cross-cutting actions expected to shape federal science and technology investments.
On the Hill
- The House Science, Space, and Technology Committee raised alarms over foreign theft of cancer research, with Chairman Brian Babin (R-TX) and Oversight Subcommittee Chairman Rich McCormick (R-GA) pressing MD Anderson Cancer Center to tighten safeguards.
- The House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) touted the closure of joint programs tied to CCP technology transfer, underscoring concerns over research security and foreign influence.
Across the Agencies
NSF and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) announced a $10 million quantum chemistry collaboration, strengthening cross-border scientific partnerships and signaling the importance of maintaining U.S. leadership in fundamental research.
In the News
- The New York Times and the American Institute of Physics highlighted the administration's new $100,000 H-1B visa fee, a change that could reshape workforce pipelines and global competitiveness.
- The Information Technology & Innovation Foundation (ITIF) released a report showing how cuts to federal R&D reduce GDP growth.
- Health Policy Watch covered the collapse of a UN declaration on noncommunicable diseases after the U.S. blocked consensus.
- The Association of American Universities (AAU) circulated a letter from business leaders urging Congress to support NSF, reinforcing the message that science funding is central to competitiveness.
- The Economic Times noted the irony of U.S. restrictions on H-1B visas even as its International Physics Olympiad team features top students from China, India, and Russia.
What I'm Watching
All eyes are on the shutdown. Beyond the immediate disruption to agency operations, how this plays out will shape the fights ahead over FY26 funding - including for NSF and other science agencies central to our community. Also of note, Axios pointed to "tectonic shifts" in Washington's policy agenda, with science and technology at the epicenter. Expect a lot more to come from the press and DC thought leaders on this critical topic.
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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