Congress has begun debating funding levels for federal programs for fiscal year (FY) 2026. Please show your support for the National Science Foundation (NSF) by asking your Representative to sign a Dear Colleague Letter in support of at least $10.2 billion in funding for the agency in 2026.
NSF is the primary federal funding source for fundamental biological research at our nation’s universities and colleges. In FY 2024, NSF’s budget was cut by more than 8% compared to FY 2023, marking the first time NSF funding has decreased in a decade. In FY 2025, Congress and the President enacted a continuing resolution to maintain NSF funding at essentially the FY 2024 enacted level through the end of the fiscal year. While a needed agreement was reached to keep the government funded, FY 2024 and 2025 funding for NSF have fallen far below our competitiveness needs. Furthermore, these allocations disregard the landmark CHIPS and Science Act, which demonstrated bipartisan commitment to advancing U.S. science and innovation. Funding for NSF continues to lag behind authorized levels; Congress approved a target funding level of $17.8 billion for NSF in FY 2026. Continued failure to meet the funding levels authorized for NSF and other science agencies in this bipartisan law will result in billions of dollars in lost opportunities.
If provided with at least $10.2 billion in FY 2026, NSF can make progress on scientific priorities articulated in the CHIPS and Science Act, expand support for early career researchers, invest in translational research and emerging industries, and create new interdisciplinary research programs, such as the Integrative Research in Biology program. This investment will sustain core research and education programs that are vital to U.S. competitiveness, economic growth, and national security.
An effort is now underway in the House of Representatives to build support for increased FY 2026 funding for NSF. Representatives Joe Neguse (D-CO) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) are circulating a Dear Colleague Letter calling on Congress to provide at least $10.2 billion in funding to NSF in FY 2026.
Please take a few moments to ask your Representative to sign the bipartisan Neguse-Fitzpatrick Dear Colleague Letter. The deadline for Representatives to be added to the letter is COB on Wednesday, May 14, 2025. We have included a template letter for your convenience but we encourage you to personalize the message.
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