Please read the bullet points below for some of the latest and up-to-date news from some of our Federal Sponsors.
National Science Foundation (NSF)
- NSF announces organizational realignment - On December 15, 2025, the National Science Foundation (NSF) announced a major organizational realignment aimed at increasing agency efficiency and responsiveness. These structural changes reduce organizational layers to accelerate response times for proposal reviews and award decisions. The NSF organizational chart can be found here.
- Merit review for a new era at NSF – On December 17, 2025, The NationalScience Board (NSB) released a new report, Merit Review for a Changing Landscape, outlining a shift in funding priorities. The report proposes updates to the U.S. National Science Foundation’s Merit Review policy to ensure that NSF-funded research advances national priorities and improves American lives. Portfolios would be built for greater nimbleness and strategic alignment with national priorities, both current and emerging. In addition, the reviewer panel would be expanded to involve experts from a wider range including industry, research institutions, venture capital, and regions of the country.
- Request for Information on the Tech Labs Initiative for the U.S National Science Foundation- On December 12, 2025, The NSF Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (TIP) announced its intention to launch Tech Labs, an outcomes-driven program designed to accelerate the commercialization of emerging technologies. Tech Labs will support full-time research, development and innovation (RDI) teams with operational autonomy and milestone-based funding. The NSF seeks community input through a Request for Information (RFI) to inform program development. Responses are due January 20, 2026, at 3:00PM EST. Submissions must not exceed 5 pages, using at least 11-point font and 1-inch margins. An informational session will be held on January 14, 2026, from 2-3PM EST. You can register for this information session at https://nsf.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_rjzKZULsRzaKB8g4F1tzBQ .
- NSF Softens grant-review rules to cope with backlog – The National Science Foundation (NSF) is relaxing some of its requirements for the review of grant proposals in an effort to cope with a backlog of applications and reduced staff numbers. Proposals now require only two external reviews instead of three and in some cases, an internal review may be substituted. Additionally, new internal guidance will limit Program Officer Assessment summaries to researcher to 3-5 sentences.
- Senate confirms Jared Isaacman as NASA administrator in do-over after Musk Feud – The Senate on Wednesday, January 17, 2025, confirmed Jared Isaacman as the new NASA administrator in a bipartisan vote, 67-30. Mr. Isaacman has pledged to bring a "business-minded approach" to the agency and to remain free of conflicts of interest regarding his ties to SpaceX and the private sector.