Over the summer, the House and Senate worked on different tracks to advance spending bills for the fiscal year that begins on October 1. The results for research were largely positive. Increases were approved in each chamber for the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, Department of Energy Office of Science, as well as for Department of Defense research and development programs. Other agency research programs, such as those with the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which were targeted for significant reductions by the administration are likely to be kept near 2018 levels. However, obstacles remain ahead of the finalization of FY 2019 appropriations.

After Labor Day, House and Senate negotiators will need to resolve the differences between their bills in agency and program spending levels. Additionally, President Trump has threatened a government shutdown if Congress fails to provide funding for a wall along the southern border. The most likely outcome by October 1 is a stopgap spending bill to fund most government operations until after the midterm elections. However, a broad shutdown remains possible.

The gains for research seen in the pending appropriations bills are expected to materialize by the late fall or early in the new Congress. The increased investments are a result of the collective advocacy of researchers from across the country, including many within the FSU community. The Office of Federal Relations coordinates activities with the congressional delegation to showcase FSU research accomplishments made possible with federal resources. For information on how you can support these efforts, please contact Jonathan Nurse, FSU Director of Federal Relations, at jnurse@fsu.edu or (202) 220-1317.