Uncertainty looms large for US science funding in 2026

As the second Donald J. Trump administration and 119th Congress move into their second year, their priorities for science are becoming clearer. But plenty of uncertainty also lies ahead in 2026, analysts say. Under the current continuing resolution, Congress has until Jan. 30 to pass its remaining appropriations bills for fiscal year 2026, including those that fund federal science agencies like the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). It’s unlikely that that process will be completed in time, says Alessandra Zimmermann, project director of research and development (R&D) policy for the R&D Budget and Policy Program at the American Association for the Advancement of Science. The House and Senate are still negotiating over their versions of the bill that will fund the NSF, among other agencies. But neither version cuts the NSF funding anywhere near the 57% that appeared in the president’s May budget request. The White House did not respond to a request for comment for this story. Even if funding levels remain stable, though, getting a federal grant is likely to be more difficult in 2026 than it has been in recent years, says Robert “Bob” Cook-Deegan, a professor in the School for the Future of Innovation in Society at Arizona State University. For one, the NIH in 2025 adopted a process of forward funding many grants, meaning the agency gave researchers a lump sum rather than parsing out payments over time. That approach could eventually have benefits, Cook-Deegan says, but transitioning to