Fiscal Year 2026 U.S. Federal Budget: Final Negotiations for Science Funding
SRCD’s actions and what to do if you have a federal research grant
After a 5-day long partial federal government shutdown, the U.S. Congress finalized 11 appropriations bills for fiscal year 2026. Federal research agencies and programs that serve children and families are fully funded until the end of the current fiscal year, on September 30th, 2026.
A short-term funding measure has been approved for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the last remaining appropriation bill. As federal lawmakers continue to negotiate this bill, even if there is a lapse of funding for DHS, we don’t expect disruptions for research and programs serving children and families.
SRCD’s Policy Department will now shift its attention to fiscal year 2027. We’ll continue our engagement with our coalition partners and federal lawmakers to advocate for robust science funding as the science community waits for the President’s Budget Request for fiscal year 2027.
Understanding a Federal Government Shutdown
Every shutdown is different, so we’ve prepared a memo that has more information about different possible scenarios and resource links.
SRCD Advocates for our Members
SRCD works year-round to ensure that the critical science our members conduct is supported and funded by Congress. Over the past year, we met with more than 75 Congressional offices and appropriations committee staff to highlight the importance of sustained investment in research. SRCD members traveled to Washington, DC, to share firsthand stories about the impact of their work, while SRCD staff collaborated with dozens of scientific societies through coalition efforts to amplify these messages.
We are currently coordinating with the Consortium of Social Science Associations (COSSA), a key coalition partner, on its annual Social Science Advocacy Day in Washington, DC. Register today!
Additionally, we’ve also signed on to eight letters to Congress to request much needed investments in science-based programs that would increase research capacity and expand on existing projects.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at policy@srcd.org. Please make sure to visit our website for more information and to follow our social media channels for updates.