Funding Negotiations Continue for Fiscal Year 2026 U.S. Federal Budget
SRCD’s actions and what to do if you have a federal research grant
Last updated: January 29th, 2026
As the January 30th funding deadline approaches, the U.S. Congress has spent the last several weeks negotiating the remaining FY 2026 appropriations bills, which include funding for federal research agencies and institutions. Recent events related to immigration enforcement in Minneapolis may further complicate negotiations for the remaining bills.
As Congress continues this work, we encourage SRCD members to connect with program officers and grants managers at federal research agencies to discuss the status of their contracts and grants. SRCD’s Policy Department will continue working with coalition partners and federal lawmakers to advocate for robust science funding as negotiations move forward.
The latest on funding negotiations
Following a historic 43-day government shutdown, Congress passed a short-term continuing resolution (CR) to keep the government funded through January 30th for nine appropriations bills, while providing full-year funding for three others. Since then, House and Senate appropriators have been negotiating to prevent another shutdown.
With only days before the CR expires, congressional leaders announced an agreement on a three-bill funding package, which includes the Commerce, Justice, Science (CJS) bill. This bill funds the National Science Foundation (NSF), the U.S. Census Bureau, the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), and the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS).
However, Congress must still complete work on the six remaining appropriations bills, including the bill that funds the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Department of Education (ED), before the January 30 deadline. As the U.S. Senate considers these bills—based on versions passed by the U.S. House of Representatives—funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is expected to be a major point of contention in completing the appropriations process.
What to do if you are affected.
If you have a federal grant or contract, or if your work relies on coordination with federal programs, we strongly recommend you contact your program officer immediately to get more information about what resources and services may be interrupted because of a potential shutdown. If a shutdown occurs, federal staff will not be able to communicate with you, so it’s important to reach out to them early to get guidance and support.
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 has been working hard to ensure that the critical science that our members do is funded in Congress. We have met with over 75 Congressional offices and appropriations committee staff to highlight the importance of research funding. SRCD members have flown to D.C. to share their stories and SRCD staff work in coalition with dozens of scientific societies to amplify our voices.
We have also signed on to eight letters to the U.S. Congress to request much needed investments on science-based programs that would increase research capacity and expand on existing projects.
However, there is still much to do! U.S. federal government shutdowns have a negative effect on the economy, and it’s our children and underserved members of our communities who suffer the most. Alongside rising child poverty rates, millions of children and their families now face the uncertainty of not having federal safety nets that provide shelter, food, and basic services. We know how impactful child poverty and insecurity can be on child development. SRCD stands ready to support our members and advocate to Congress if a shutdown occurs.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. Please make sure to visit our website for more information and to follow our social media channels for updates.