Published June 22, 2026, via Research News
This digest highlights recent announcements and updates issued by federal agencies, but is not comprehensive. Regularly check sponsor websites to see all announcements.
The White House, Presidential Actions
June 3, 2026
Executive Order: Implementing Schedule Policy/Career in the Excepted Service
- On June 3, 2026, President Trump signed this Executive Order directing executive branch agencies to expand and implement Schedule Policy/Career, an excepted-service category for career federal employees in policy-influencing roles. The order transfers designated positions into this category, making employees in those rules subject to streamlined removal procedures for poor performance or misconduct while retaining merit-based hiring requirements. It also amends civil service regulations, requires agencies to identify additional policy-influencing positions for potential transfer, and establishes new performance-based awards to incentivize high-performing employees.
OMB – The Office of Management and Budget
May 29, 2026
Proposed Changes to the Uniform Guidance
- The OMB has proposed significant revisions to the Uniform Guidance. The changes are vast and will not only impact research grants, but also Medicaid, transportation, education, food assistance and FEMA disaster recovery grants. Several of the most consequential proposed changes to research are summarized here.
- The proposal is open for public comment through July 13, 2026. OMB intends to issue a final rule by October 1, 2026.
HHS – Health and Human Services
June 10, 2026
HHS Request for Comment on Chronic Disease of Addiction
- HHS invites public comment in response to this Request for Information (RFI) on the research, development, programs, and policies that have been most successful in improving availability of and access to effective prevention, treatment, and recovery interventions for addiction, mental illness, and co-occurring substance use and mental disorders. The purpose of this RFI is to identify research, programs, and policies that have been successful and recommend novel policy ideas and gaps in research that could be addressed and implemented to further the Great American Recovery using existing funding.
- Comments on this notice must be received by July 5, 2026.
HRSA – Health Resources & Services Administration
May 1, 2026
How to Apply – Application Guide
- The new How to Apply – Application Guide replaces the existing HRSA Standard and Research & Related (R&R) Application Guides, merging them into one, easy-to-navigate document.
- Key improvements designed to better synchronize the Guide with HRSA Notices of Funding Opportunity (NOFOs) include:
- Restructured Guide layout and contents to align with the NOFOs.
- Removal of sections already covered in the NOFOs.
NASA – National Aeronautics and Space Administration
June 15, 2026
ROSES-25: Several Updates to the ROSES-25 Summary of Solicitation
- ROSES-25 Amendment 59 updates the Summary of Solicitation to align with agency and administration priorities.
- The amendment also notes proposed revisions to 2 CFR 200, the federal guidance governing grants and cooperative agreements, expected to take effect October 1, 2026. These changes could restrict or limit currently allowable costs, including publications, international research or events, and domestic conferences. Public comments submitted through the OMB portal are due July 13, 2026.
May 27, 2026
Research Security Training Requirement for Federal Financial Assistance Funding
- Effective August 5, 2026, covered individuals on federal financial assistance awards must certify to NASA they have taken research security training prior to submission of proposals.
NIH – National Institutes of Health
June 18, 2026
NOT-OD-26-087: Request for Information on Measuring and Rewarding Scientific Impact
- NIH is seeking public input on how to better define, measure, recognize, and incentivize the qualities of modern biomedical research. Modern biological research relies on transparent reporting, rigorous replication, careful interpretation of methods and analyses, and continuous refinement of scientific knowledge.
- Comments are invited on potential indicators, evaluation measures, and incentive structures that could encourage and reward research practices that produce reliable and impactful scientific findings.
- NIH is particularly interested in comments that include specific examples of measurable indicators, implementation approaches, potential benefits or unintended consequences, and considerations for feasibility across career stages, disciplines, and institution types.
- Comments can be submitted through this form through August 19, 2026.
June 8, 2026
NOT-OD-26-086: Request for Information: Proposal to Cap the Number of Simultaneous Research Project Grants per Principal Investigator to Support More Researchers and Maximize Scientific Productivity and Innovation
- NIH is requesting public input on a proposal to limit the number of Research Project Grants (RPGs) on which an investigator can serve as a PI or MPI simultaneously. Comments are due August 3, 2026.
May 27, 2026
NOT-OD-26-084: Reminder – Definition of Foreign Components
- NIH released this notice as a reminder regarding the definition of foreign components as described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement. Collaborations or coauthorship arrangements involving investigators from other countries require prior approval by the NIH before related proposals are submitted.
- For ongoing projects, NIH-funded investigators should also obtain NIH approval before including manuscripts coauthored with foreign collaborators in progress reports, even if the work is already underway.
May 4, 2026
Selecting the Right Models for Your Research: A Focus on New Approach Methodologies (NAMs)
- As the NIH continues to encourage approaches that enhance human relevance and translational potential, investigators should select the models most appropriate for their specific research questions.
- Investigators are encouraged to focus on New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) when planning and applying for NIH funding.
SAMSA — Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
June 15, 2026
NOFO: National Child Traumatic Stress Initiative – Category II Treatment and Service Adaptation (TSA) Centers
- The purpose of the NCTSI-II program is to create and operate National Child Traumatic Stress Initiative Category 2 Treatment and Service Adaptation (TSA) Centers to provide national expertise for specific types of childhood traumatic events, population groups, and service systems, and support the specialized adaptation of effective evidence-based treatment and service approaches for communities across the nation.
- Note: SAMHSA will accept and review only the first 50 complete, successfully submitted, and high-quality applications received via eRA. Once this threshold is met, the submission portal will close, and no further applications will be considered.
WashU Institutional Training Updates
- To align with NIH data security requirements for controlled-access data, Research Infrastructure Services (RIS) is implementing a formal annual security attestation and training in Workday for all users and will be assigned to you no later than June 30, 2026.
- Once assigned, please complete the attestation and training in Workday to ensure uninterrupted access to the RIS environment.
- More information is available on the RIS website.
& In Case You Missed It…
Many federal agencies have announced organizational restructurings, including:
If you have agency updates you would like to add to future digests, email rei@wusm.wustl.edu.