Washington, D.C. — January 11, 2026
The U.S. Congress is moving to reverse President Donald Trump’s proposed steep cuts to federal science programs, signaling strong bipartisan resistance to what would have been the largest reduction in scientific funding since World War II.
In his budget proposal, President Trump sought to reduce overall federal science spending from $198 billion to $154 billion, a 22 percent cut that alarmed researchers, universities, and science advocacy groups across the country.
However, the Senate Appropriations Committee has released a bipartisan package of spending bills that largely abandons those proposed reductions. If approved, the legislation would allocate approximately $188 billion for federal research, representing a modest 4 percent decrease compared to the previous fiscal year—far less severe than the administration’s proposal.
Basic Research Funding Protected
Notably, funding for basic scientific research could actually increase by more than 2 percent under the Senate plan. This stands in sharp contrast to the Trump administration’s proposal, which aimed to cut basic research funding by more than one-third.
Science advocates say the move reflects Congress’s long-standing support for federally funded research as a driver of innovation, economic growth, and national security.
NSF Cuts Largely Rejected
The proposed cuts were especially severe for the National Science Foundation (NSF). Trump’s budget called for slashing NSF funding from $8.8 billion to $3.9 billion, a reduction of nearly 56 percent.
The Senate package instead proposes a funding level of $8.75 billion, a cut of less than 1 percent, effectively preserving the agency’s core programs and research grants.
Congress Pushes Back
Alessandra Zimmermann, a budget analyst at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), said the Senate’s action demonstrates clear resistance to the administration’s approach.
“Congress is pushing back against the proposed cuts,” Zimmermann said, noting that lawmakers from both parties appear determined to protect the nation’s scientific infrastructure.
What Comes Next
The Senate bills must still be reconciled with House legislation and signed into law. However, the early bipartisan consensus suggests that most of the administration’s proposed science cuts are unlikely to be enacted.
For the U.S. scientific community, the move offers cautious optimism that federal research funding—while facing some restraint—will remain largely intact.
