News
NSF, NASA, DOE, and NEH; New Leaders; Microelectronics
BU in DC
Will you be in Washington, DC, this year? Let us know -- we'd love to highlight your visit.
HOUSE REJECTS ADMINISTRATION'S PROPOSED CUTS TO SCIENCE, HUMANITIES
On Thursday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a package of fiscal year 2026 spending bills that reject the Trump Administration's proposed cuts to science and cultural agencies. The measures will slightly increase the Department of Energy's (DOE) science budget, maintain the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) science budget at its current level, and decrease the National Science Foundation's (NSF) budget by 3.4%. Earlier this year, the Trump Administration had proposed cutting NSF by 57%, NASA Science by 47%, and the DOE Office of Science by 14%. The bills will maintain funding for the National Endowments for the Arts and Humanities at $207 million each, in contrast to the Administration's plan to eliminate both agencies. The U.S. Senate is expected to approve the House-passed bills later this month. Congress is still crafting a final set of fiscal year 2026 spending bills for the Departments of Health and Human Services, Education, and Defense.
NEW LEADERS AT NASA, DOD, NIH, AND NEA
Several federal agencies have new leadership, including:
- Jared Isaacman was sworn in as the 15th administrator of NASA on December 18th after the U.S. Senate approved his nomination by a vote of 67 to 30. Isaacman is an entrepreneur and pilot.
- Mary Anne Carter returns as the chair of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), following approval by the U.S. Senate on December 18th. Carter held the same role between 2019 and 2021.
- Assistant Secretary for Defense for Science and Technology Joseph Jewell and Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering James Mazol were confirmed to roles at the Department of Defense (DOD) by the Senate on December 18th. Dr. Jewell is a hypersonics and aerospace research scholar who has held roles at Purdue University and the Air Force Research Laboratory. Mazol previously oversaw science and technology policy for the Senate Armed Services Committee.
- Dr. Amy Adams will serve as acting director of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) following the departure of current director Dr. Walter Koroshetz on January 24th. Leaders at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services declined to reappoint Koroshetz to a third term as NINDS director.
- Dr. Shawn Domagal-Goldman is the acting director of the Astrophysics Division of the NASA Science Mission Directorate. He replaces Dr. Sandra Cauffman, who retired in December after more than two decades with the agency.
GRANT NEWS YOU CAN USE
"Microelectronics: Landscape of Federal Research and Policy Priorities" is now available to members of the BU community on the Federal Relations website. The primer from Lewis-Burke Associates identifies federal priorities, funding investments, and engagement opportunities relevant to research, education, and workforce organizations working to advance microelectronics. The document identifies funding opportunities at the National Science Foundation, Department of Energy, and Department of Defense and analyzes changes to the Commerce Department's approach to microelectronics.
Best of The Brink 2025: 10 Inspiring Inventions and Impactful Ideas from Boston University Researchers
From soft robots that could make cancer surgery safer to an algorithm that boosts hearing aid performance, how BU research made a difference this year.
Down Syndrome, Rural Hospitals, Miracle on Ice
RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT
How BU Research Is Helping Infants with Down Syndrome Take Steps Toward Independence
With investment from the National Institutes of Health, Professor Jana Iverson of BU's Infant Communication Lab is using a mobility aid to support children’s early development.
Watch how her work is changing lives
FACULTY EXPERTS
"The Loss of a Rural Hospital Is Devastating for a Local Community"
As rural-area hospitals continue to shutter their doors at a concerning rate across America, BU School of Public Health Professors Timothy Callaghan, Alan Sager, and Eugene Declercq discuss what is driving these closures and how public health can help affected communities receive the care they deserve.
NOTABLE ALUMNI
1980 US Olympic Hockey Team, with Four BU Players, Gets Congressional Gold Medal
Mike Eruzione (Wheelock’77), Jim Craig (Wheelock’80, MET’09), Jack O’Callahan (CAS’79), and David Silk (CAS’80) were the four Terriers playing for the US Olympic men’s hockey team, who defeated the Soviet Union in a victory that earned the nickname “Miracle on Ice.”
THOUGHT LEADERS
In Case You Missed It...
WBUR covers BU's eco-friendly glow-up of Warren Towers... Kyna Hamill of the BU College of Arts & Sciences talks with NPR about the origins of the holiday classic "Jingle Bells"... BU Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine Professor Katherine Gergen Barnett shared her concerns about the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's hepatitis B vaccine recommendation for infants with The Boston Globe... BU alum Wynn Thomas (CFA '75) received an honorary Oscar for his work on films such as Malcolm X, A Beautiful Mind, and Hidden Figures... Happy Holidays from BU Federal Relations!
Video: 1980 Olympic Hockey Team, with Four BU Players, Gets Congressional Gold Medal
In the second installment of her video series Leaders Among Us, BU President Melissa Gilliam speaks with Mike Eruzione (Wheelock'77), captain of the 1980 "Miracle on Ice" gold medal-winning team, about leadership and receiving the nation's highest civilian honor.
Defense Research; Genesis Mission; Financial Aid
BU in DC
The CARB-X Joint Oversight Board met in Washington, DC, on December 11th.
HOUSE PASSES DEFENSE POLICY BILL
On Wednesday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the National Defense Authorization Act, the annual bill that establishes defense policy. The legislation emphasizes artificial intelligence, quantum, and biotechnology as defense research priorities, establishing a Biotechnology Management Office and directing the Department of Defense to create a strategy for emerging biotechnology matters. Notably, the bill does not include measures previously approved by the House that would have significantly limited collaborations between American and international scientists. The U.S. Senate is expected to approve the bill and send it to the President for his signature next week.
HOUSE SCIENCE COMMITTEE REVIEWS GENESIS MISSION
The House Science, Space, and Technology Committee held a hearing titled "The Genesis Mission: Prioritizing American Science and Technology Leadership Power" on Wednesday. Department of Energy Under Secretary Dario Gil testified about on the Administration's Genesis Mission proposal to invest in artificial intelligence infrastructure as a tool to accelerate scientific progress and U.S. competitiveness. Under Secretary Gil praised the partnership between universities and the federal government, stating that "the university ecosystem that funds and supports science and engineering and educates our students in science and engineering and mathematics is indispensable."
HOUSE COMMITTEE APPROVES FINANCIAL AID BILLS
The House Education and Workforce Committee approved legislation to increase transparency around college costs on Thursday. The Student Financial Clarity Act, coauthored by Congresswoman Lori Trahan (D-MA), would create a Universal Net Price Calculator; it was approved by a vote of 27 to 6. The College Financial Aid Clarity Act, which would require universities to use a standard financial aid offer developed by the U.S. Department of Education, was approved by a 23 to 10 vote. The Committee's approval clears the way for the bills to be considered by the full U.S. House of Representatives next year.
A Note to Our Readers: As Congress approaches its District Work Period, Beltway BUzz will temporarily pause publication. Be sure to visit our website, follow us on LinkedIn, or check the University's Federal Actions page for updates. Happy holidays!
BU’s Legacy of Values, as Told Through Voices from Our Shared History
At a time when people are yearning for closer community, greater inclusion, integrity, and messages of hope, we turn to powerful words from Lucy Wheelock, Elie Wiesel, Martin Luther King, Jr., Howard Thurman, Barbara Jordan, and others who have helped to shape today's Boston University.
How BU Research Is Helping Infants with Down Syndrome Take Steps Toward Independence
Jana Iverson is using a mobility aid to support children's early development.
Genesis Mission; Education Roundtable; NSF Broader Impacts
BU in DC
Congressman Seth Moulton (D-MA) joined the BU Wheelock Center for Future Readiness for their webinar announcing a new partnership with the American Veterans Arts Collective on December 2nd.
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY ANNOUNCES REORGANIZATION, GENESIS MISSION
Last week, the White House and the Department of Energy (DOE) launched the Genesis Mission to "unleash a new age of AI-accelerated innovation and discovery.” Its core objectives include doubling the productivity and impact of U.S. science within a decade, advancing energy dominance -- including fusion, nuclear, and grid modernization -- and strengthening national security through AI-enabled research. DOE Under Secretary for Science Dario Gil issued an open letter to the research community outlining the Genesis plan. The launch followed a recent reorganization of the agency that includes the closure of the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy and the creation of new science offices. Under the auspices of the Under Secretary of Science, DOE established offices of Artificial Intelligence and Quantum and Fusion alongside the existing Office of Science.
BUZZ BITS...
- On Wednesday, the White House hosted a roundtable titled "Biased Professors, Woke Administrators, and the End of Free Inquiry on U.S. Campuses," featuring Secretary of Education Linda McMahon and several college students and administrators. McMahon called on university leaders "to join me in a golden age of academe -- committed to reason, not racial preferences." The meeting was the second installment in a planned three-event series on higher education at the White House.
- The Senate Appropriations Committee released its proposed spending bill for the Department of Energy (DOE) last week. The Committee-released bill proposes to fund the Office of Science at $8.25 billion in fiscal year 2026, a slight increase over its current funding level and a rejection of the President's proposed $1.15 billion reduction in science activities. The Senate has not yet scheduled a vote on the bill.
- The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee voted to advance the nomination of Mary Anne Carter as the chair of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) by a 14 to 9 vote on Wednesday. Carter served as NEA Chair during the first Trump Administration.
EVENT NEWS YOU CAN USE
On Thursday, December 11th, the Office of Research will host "National Science Foundation (NSF) Broader Impacts in a Different Climate" via Zoom at 12:00 pm. The interactive panel discussion will focus on how NSF reviewers are approaching broader impacts in today’s shifting funding climate. BU colleagues who have recently served as NSF reviewers will share what they’ve learned from the review process and offer concrete, actionable tips for crafting compelling broader impacts sections -- particularly in light of evolving expectations and priorities. Participants will also learn how Research Development can support you in developing broader impact strategies for large, complex, and center-scale proposals.