Research funding holds steady

January 15, 2026

Illustration courtesy of Adobe Stock/MdAbed and SkyLine.

After Congress returned from the holiday break, appropriators released another "minibus" funding package. The minibus covers a substantial portion of federal research funding for fiscal year (FY) 2026. While the bill makes some small funding cuts to certain research programs, it rejects the steep funding cuts that were included in President Trump's FY26 request.

After Congress returned from the holiday break, appropriators released another "minibus" funding package. The minibus includes three bipartisan spending bills, the Commerce-Justice-Science, Energy and Water Development, and Interior-Environment bills, which cover a substantial portion of federal research funding for fiscal year (FY) 2026. While the bill makes some small funding cuts to certain research programs, it rejects the steep funding cuts that were included in President Trump's FY26 request.

Weather research center protected

Included within the accompanying bill report is language that appears to outline additional congressional oversight over research facilities. While not specifically mentioned, the language is assumed to refer to recent developments about the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR).

Just before the holidays, Office of Management and Budget Director, Russ Vought, posted on X that the National Science Foundation (NSF) would be "breaking up" NCAR. Following the announcement, the National Science Foundation, which funds NCAR, announcedthat it would be reviewing the structure of NCAR’s research and observational capabilities. The National Center for Atmospheric Research is an NSF-affiliated research center that provides key weather and climate research and data that are critical for businesses, the public, and advancing research.

The announcement was met with significant concern within the scientific community and members of Congress, led by members of the Colorado delegation.

In a move to address the proposed changes at NCAR, the minibus report directs NSF to provide within 30 days a briefing to Congress on its facilities management and oversight plan for NSF-supported research and development centers and major scientific facilities across all disciplines.

Full details and specific funding levels can be found in the table below.

Program	FY24	FY25	FY26 FINAL	Difference	% change
USDA–AGARDA	$500,000	$500,000	500,000	No change	No change
USDA–ARS Salaries	$1.78 billion	$1.78 billion	$1.79 billion	+$5 million	No change
USDA–NIFA	$1.68 billion	$1.68 billion	$1.677 billion	–$2 million	No change
USDA–NIFA, Research	$1.08 billion	$1.08 billion	$1.08 billion	No change	No change
USDA–NIFA, AFRI	$445 million	$445 million	$435 million	–$10 million	–2%
USDA–NIFA, Hatch	$265 million	$265 million	$265 million	No change	No change
USDA–NIFA, SARE	$48 million	$48 million	$48 million	No change	No change
USDA–NRCS, Conservation Operations	$915 million	$896 million	$850 million	–$46 million	–6%
NSF	$9.06 billion	$9.06 billion	$8.75 billion	–$310 million	–3%
DOE–Office of Science	$8.24 billion	$8.24 billion	$8.40 billion	+$160 million	+2%
ARPA-E	$460 million	$460 million	$350 million	–$110 million	–24%
USGS	$1.45 billion	$1.45 billion	$1.42 billion	–$35 million	–2%
USFS–Forest and Rangeland Research	$300 million	$300 million	$309 million	+$9 million	+3%
USEPA–Science & Technology	$783 million	$756 million	$744 million	–$12 million	–2%

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