NSF Secures $8.75 Billion in FY2026, Plans 10,000 New Research Awards
March 15, 2026 · 2 min read
David Almeida
The National Science Foundation's FY2026 budget is set at $8.75 billion, including $7.18 billion for research activities that will fund nearly 10,000 new awards and support more than 250,000 scientists, technicians, teachers, and students. The number represents a stabilization after months of uncertainty about whether proposed cuts would gut the agency's grant-making capacity.
The DOE Office of Science, the nation's largest funder of physical sciences research, received $8.4 billion—preserving its position as a primary engine for basic research in physics, chemistry, materials science, and computing.
What Survived the Budget Battle
Both agencies emerged largely intact from a bruising appropriations fight. The White House had proposed steep reductions across science agencies, but congressional appropriators in both parties pushed back. NSF's new initiative to launch independent research organizations focused on challenges that traditional university and industry labs cannot easily tackle remains funded, with large multi-year awards expected later in FY2026.
Key NSF programs with upcoming 2026 deadlines include Growing Convergence Research (target dates in September), International Research Experiences for Students (July–August), and the Graduate Research Fellowship Program.
Reading the Signals
The stable topline numbers mask a more complex reality. While NSF and DOE Office of Science dodged the deepest proposed cuts, the overall federal R&D landscape remains in flux. The Schedule F reclassification policy now affecting grant-making personnel, ongoing debates about indirect cost reimbursement, and a presidential budget that signaled hostility toward basic research all contribute to uncertainty about how dollars will actually flow to investigators.
Researchers should treat the settled budgets as a green light to submit proposals across NSF and DOE programs. The funding pipeline is open, award counts are projected to hold near historical levels, and agencies are actively soliciting applications. For researchers navigating which programs align with their work, Granted tracks active federal opportunities across every major science agency.