The FY26 National Science Foundation (NSF) Senate Dear Colleague Letter urges the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee to provide at least $9.9 billion for the NSF in FY26 to ensure U.S. leadership in emerging technologies and to support critical research, education, and workforce development. It emphasizes that robust NSF funding is essential for maintaining the nation’s competitiveness, security, and resilience in fields such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and biotechnology.
The FY26 National Science Foundation (NSF) House Dear Colleague Letter urges members of the House of Representatives to support robust funding for NSF in Fiscal Year 2026, emphasizing the importance of maintaining U.S. leadership in science, technology, and innovation. The letter calls for a significant investment in NSF to advance research, support emerging technologies, and ensure America’s long-term competitiveness and security.
AAU strongly opposes numerous provisions in the current House reconciliation bill, arguing that changes to Pell Grant eligibility, loan borrowing limits, risk-sharing requirements, and new taxes on endowments and research income would harm low-income and underrepresented students, undermine university missions, and stifle vital research and innovation. AAU warns that the bill would not make college more accessible or affordable, unfairly targets leading research institutions, and could weaken the nation’s higher education and healthcare infrastructure.
AAU joined ACE and 11 other higher education associations in sending a letter to House Committee on Energy and Commerce leadership to raise concerns about "the impact of [proposed] substantial cuts to the Medicaid programs."
AAU and APLU sent a joint letter to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in response to their RFI on Deregulation, where they "recommend several areas to simplify federal regulations to increase efficiency of the U.S. scientific enterprise and reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens on university researchers."
AAU joined ACE and 4 other higher education associations to send a letter to the U.S. Department of Education after they announced the possible formation of negotiated rulemaking committees.
AAU joined ACE and 3 other higher education associations to send a letter to House Leadership in opposition of H.R.881, "DHS Restrictions on Confucius Institutes and Chinese Entities of Concern Act," specifically in regards to the new and very broad definition of "Chinese entities of concern."
Former NSF Directors and NSB Chairs warn Congress that proposed budget and staffing cuts would undermine U.S. scientific leadership and urge a major increase in NSF funding to secure America's global competitiveness, innovation, and prosperity.
AAU joined ACE and 4 other higher education associations to send a letter to Chairman Tim Walberg of the House Committee on Education and Workforce sharing their concerns and opposition to the Student Success and Taxpayer Savings Plan, a proposal to provide for budget reconciliation affecting education programs.
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AAU President Barbara R. Snyder sent a letter to House Appropriations Energy and Water Development Subcommittee Ranking Member Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) and Senate Appropriations Energy and Water Development Subcommittee Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA), thanking them for their opposition to the new Department of Energy policy setting a standardized 15% indirect cost rate for all grant awards to institutions of higher education.