White House stalls release of approved US science budgets
Feb 27th 2026
The White House Office of Management and Budget is withholding or restricting release of research funds that Congress approved for fiscal 2026, leaving major grant agencies constrained and slowing new awards while agencies wait for OMB approval.
- OMB has not authorized the NIH to spend any of the 2026 funds approved by Congress on 3 February.
- The NSF received authorization to spend its 2026 research funding only last week after weeks of delay.
- NASA got full-year funding but faces a restriction that prevents spending on ten specific science programs until more details are provided.
- Last August the OMB revised Circular A-11 to limit automatic 30-day funding to essential expenses such as salaries, giving the White House more control over agency spending.
- These OMB actions, together with a 43-day government shutdown, have slowed new grant awards to about 30% of the NIH's typical pace and about 20% for the NSF so far this fiscal year.