The May 2017 Update from the Council on Governmental Relations (COGR) provides a comprehensive overview of significant federal policy developments affecting research universities and institutions. The report highlights the deep concerns raised by the proposed FY2018 federal budget, particularly the substantial cuts to research funding at NIH and NSF and a proposed cap on reimbursement for indirect (F&A) costs, which institutions argue could threaten key research infrastructure and the university-government partnership. COGR and allied associations have taken proactive steps to correct misconceptions about indirect costs and have engaged with Congress, relevant agencies, and other stakeholders on this and related regulatory proposals.
Beyond federal funding, the Update covers ongoing compliance, regulatory, and administrative issues, including extended implementation deadlines for procurement standards, challenges related to single IRB policies and direct charging methodologies, and debates about equitable treatment in NIH funding for off-campus research centers. The report addresses recent audits concerning student financial aid and information security, and documents COGR's advocacy for delays in new Department of Education open licensing rules. Further, COGR reports on its efforts to seek clarification regarding the treatment of fundamental research in defense contracts, and on issues raised by recent government surveys and citizenship restrictions in certain federal solicitations. Updates are also given on intellectual property and technology transfer, including interactions with the USPTO and ongoing discussions about federal march-in rights and drug pricing. The document notes federal initiatives and community responses regarding regulatory reform, human subjects research, reporting and compliance related to the DATA Act, as well as new approaches to integrity in research, data access, biosafety, and oversight of dual-use research. Overall, the Update demonstrates COGR’s wide-ranging efforts to represent research institutions’ interests in a complex and evolving federal policy landscape, emphasizing both vigilance against adverse policy changes and collaboration for constructive reform.
