Trump Administration Adds Personnel
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ADDS PERSONNEL
This week, several key Administration positions were filled that will have an impact on federal research policy and funding:
- Heather Wilson was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on Monday to serve as secretary of the Air Force. Wilson, a former congresswoman from New Mexico, has expressed her support for basic and applied research programs “to keep the Air Force ahead of adversaries for the long term.”
- The Senate also confirmed Dr. Scott Gottlieb as the commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday. He will play a leading role in implementing provisions of the 21st Century Cures Act, and has pledged to focus on the nation’s opioid crisis.
- Gopal Khanna was appointed as director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality on Tuesday. In that role, he will oversee federal research into healthcare affordability and quality.
STUDENT LOAN INTEREST RATES TO RISE
The U.S. Treasury Department announced the results of its 10-year note auction, which will lead to a rise in student loan interest rates for the 2017-18 academic year. Rates will increase from the current 3.76 percent to 4.45 percent for new undergraduate loans, from 5.31 percent to 6 percent for graduate loans, and from 6.31 percent to 7 percent for PLUS loans for graduate students and parents. The rates will be effective for new loans taken out starting July 1, and will not affect existing loans.
AGENCY NEWS YOU CAN USE
The National Science Foundation (NSF) is requesting recommendations for membership on its advisory committees, which play an important role in shaping research and educational opportunities for each NSF directorate. BU faculty currently serve on several of these committees, advising the agency on its engineering, geosciences, and environmental research and education activities. Investigators who are interested in serving on an NSF advisory committee may self-nominate or solicit nominations from others. Faculty can also reach out to BU Research or BU Federal Relations for insights into both the nomination process and the work of the advisory committees.