Congress Funded Science — But Agencies Aren't Spending the Money
March 12, 2026 · 2 min read
Arthur Griffin
Here is the paradox facing American science in March 2026: Congress delivered the money, but researchers still can't get it.
The FY2026 appropriations package preserved $48.7 billion for NIH (up $415 million), $8.75 billion for NSF, $8.4 billion for DOE's Office of Science, and $24.44 billion for NASA — a bipartisan rejection of proposed cuts exceeding 40% at most agencies. Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins called it "fiscally responsible" funding to "spur scientific research necessary to maintain U.S. competitiveness."
But between appropriation and actual grant awards, something is breaking down.
The Numbers Tell the Story
NSF has awarded almost 50% fewer grants since January 2025 compared to the same period a year earlier. NIH has made roughly two-thirds of its usual awards by this point in the fiscal year. According to Grant Witness tracking data, over 5,400 NIH grants worth $520 million and nearly 2,000 NSF grants worth $700 million remain terminated or frozen.
The causes are structural. Science agencies lost approximately 20% of their administrative staff in 2025, including the program managers who process and disburse awards. Sixteen of NIH's 27 institutes lack permanent directors. The Office of Management and Budget, under Director Russell Vought, appears to be restricting disbursement velocity even for congressionally approved funds.
What This Means for Active and Prospective Grantees
For PIs with pending awards, the advice is clear: maintain direct communication with your program officer, document timeline commitments, and do not assume congressional appropriation guarantees timely funding. For researchers planning new submissions, the pipeline delays make it even more critical to diversify funding sources across federal, foundation, and state programs.
Jeremy Berg, former director of the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, warned of "Lysenko-esque" ideological control emerging in how grants are evaluated. David Sanders at Purdue noted the disruption "is at least as important as the actual cuts," with colleagues "devastated" and reconsidering research careers.
Stay current on federal funding disbursement status and alternative grant opportunities at grantedai.com.