The Legislative Update & Outlook session held on October 24, 2025, at the COGR Annual Meeting brought together key policy leaders, including Toby Smith of the Association of American Universities, Joanne Carney of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and Matt Owens of COGR, to discuss the current status and outlook of research and development (R&D) funding in the United States. The discussion highlighted the historical and ongoing challenges posed by federal government shutdowns and the increasing reliance on continuing resolutions, both of which have significant implications for the stability and predictability of federal R&D support.
The session provided a detailed analysis of the fiscal landscape affecting various science and technology agencies, referencing data from the GAO, AAAS, and CRS to illustrate fluctuating appropriations and the frequency of funding interruptions since the late 20th century. The speakers reviewed proposed funding changes at the program level for FY 2026, noting that certain agencies, such as the National Institutes of Health, Department of Defense Science & Technology, and others, are subject to varying degrees of increase or decrease based on White House, House, and Senate budget proposals. Ultimately, the session underscored the importance of sustained, predictable federal investment in science, emphasized the risks of budgetary uncertainty for both research progress and workforce stability, and called attention to the potential impacts of the current legislative climate on the broader research enterprise.
