June 11: Congressional, executive, and judicial updates
This email is being sent to PIs with open federal awards, deans, research associate deans, and unit heads whose units have federal sponsored projects.
Dear Colleagues,
I hope that your summer research season is going well and that you are also getting a chance to enjoy the Colorado sunshine. I am planning on continuing my updates throughout the summer.
As many of you saw last week, the Trump Administration released the details of FY 26 President’s Budget Request. The House has started their budget hearings as well. We are tracking the FY26 budget process closely. We appreciate any insight you may have about potential impacts to your program areas and/or communications from your disciplinary associations about impacts. The APLU provided a chart outlining budget proposals relevant to higher education and research. It is important to remember, however, that Congress is responsible for authorizing annual appropriations, and the FY26 appropriations bills will require majority approval in the House and 60 votes in the Senate. Consequently, we anticipate significant changes before Congress finishes their work.
In the executive branch this week, the National Science Foundation launched a requirement for PIs and co-PIs to certify that they are not participating in malign foreign talent recruitment programs in Reserach.gov. This new attestation flows from requirements in the CHIPS and Science Act and must be completed before PIs can submit proposals. If you have questions about this new requirement, please reach out to Mark Hubbard at [email protected].
Additionally, on May 1, the National Institutes of Health’s new policy related to foreign subawards saying that the agency will not issue awards that contain subawards to a foreign entity. At this time, it is not clear how the NIH will treat new proposals that include subawards to foreign entities. The NIH may also remove foreign subawards from current awards that receive modifications or continuation funding. If your program or grants officer contacts you to discuss revising your award, please reach out to your Senior Research Administrator.
Several court cases are progressing that are relevant to institutions of higher education. Colorado has joined 15 other states in litigation against the NSF’s grant terminations and the proposed 15% F&A cap; CSU provided a declaration for this lawsuit. CSU has also joined an amicus brief this week in support of Harvard in their legal challenge to grant terminations.
A quick reminder that you should not respond to federal agency requests for information, even those that say that the PI can sign or are on a quick turnaround. Instead, please send the request to [email protected] and the Office of Sponsored Programs will respond on behalf of CSU.
As always, please reach out if you have any questions, concerns, or suggestions. I continue to be grateful to be a part of the CSU community.
Best,
Cass
Cassandra Moseley, Ph.D. (she/hers)
Vice President for Research
Professor, Department of Forest and Rangeland Stewardship