The June 2021 Update from the Council on Governmental Relations (COGR) delivers a comprehensive overview of recent legislative, regulatory, and policy developments relevant to research security, compliance, financial management, and diversity initiatives within the U.S. research community. Key legislative actions include the advancement of the National Science Foundation for the Future Act and the Innovation and Competition Act, both featuring numerous research security provisions such as restrictions on participation in foreign talent programs, stricter disclosures of foreign funding and affiliations, and the establishment of dedicated research security offices. State-level measures, notably in Florida, further emphasize disclosure and screening requirements for researchers and research-related activities, possibly serving as templates for broader implementation.
COGR also details recent federal guidance and interagency efforts on harmonizing requirements for the reporting of biosketches, current and pending support, and other research disclosures, highlighting ongoing challenges with administrative alignment between agencies such as NIH and NSF. The report discusses updates in technology transfer policy, notably new funding authorized for academic tech transfer, and reviews regulatory changes, such as NIST’s Bayh-Dole NPRM and the Department of Energy’s enhanced domestic manufacturing provisions. Institutional compliance and financial concerns are addressed, including ongoing issues with payment management systems, audit findings, and implementation of pandemic-related emergency relief funds and grant flexibilities. The update further covers initiatives to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion (including NASA’s RFI and COGR’s Diversity Toolbox), new guidance on research misconduct, animal welfare regulations, data management and sharing, and ongoing efforts to streamline compliance processes. Collectively, these developments reflect a dynamic policy landscape in which research organizations are tasked with navigating complex federal and state mandates while upholding research integrity, transparency, and equitable participation.
