Published October 20, 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
October 19, 2026
Executive Order: Advancing Women’s Health to Improve Outcomes in All Phases of Life
- This Executive Order aims to improve research, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment for conditions that affect women. In compliance with this Executive Order:
- The Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), must establish a Women’s Health Division within 90 days.
- The White House Women’s Health Task Force, co-chaired by the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff, is now established.
October 8, 2026
Fact Sheet: Trump Administration Announces the Most Ambitious Set of Science Initiatives This Century
- This White House fact sheet describes initiatives announced at the “Science: A New Golden Age” Summit, including:
- Equipping American scientists with Super Intelligence (SI)
- Replacing DEI with merit across the Federal R&D enterprise
- Bringing back national missions
- Building institutions that accelerate discovery
September 29, 2026
Executive Order: Inaugurating the Era of Super Intelligence
- This Executive Order directs executive branch agencies to use “Super Intelligence” and “SI” in place of “Artificial Intelligence” and “AI,” to the maximum extent permitted by law, including in official correspondence, public communications, websites, reports, policy documents, and other non-statutory documents.
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Current and Pending (Other) Support
NIH FAQ on Data Management and Sharing (DMS) Plan
- If the updated 2026 DMS Plan format is required for the next RPPR but section C.5.C (Data Management and Sharing) is not available, upload the DMS Plan in Section G.1 (Special Notice of Award Terms and Notice of Funding Opportunity Reporting Requirements).
October 8, 2026
NOT-OD-26-118: Request for Information (RFI): Opportunities to Reduce Administrative Burden in NIH Extramural Research
- NIH is requesting input on administrative requirements, policies, forms, and systems that impose unnecessary or disproportionate burden across the grant lifecycle, while keeping appropriate accountability for federal funds.
- NIH is asking for specific, actionable suggestions, such as simplifying or eliminating requirements, collecting information once or later in the process, using institutional certifications, reusing existing data, using AI tools, and reducing reporting that isn’t used.
- Responses may be submitted electronically at Request For Information: Opportunities to Reduce Administrative Burden in NIH Extramural Research by December 8, 2026.
October 5, 2026
NOT-OD-26-120: Accelerated Implementation of Data Management and Sharing Plan Changes for NIH Career Development (K) Awards
- NIH is removing the Data Management and Sharing (DMS) Plan requirement for Career Development (K) awards effective immediately, rather than waiting until the October 12, 2027, date set in NOT-OD-26-098.
- NIH will not treat a missing DMS Plan as noncompliance. All other provisions of NOT-OD-26-098 remain unchanged, and NIH will update funding opportunities, application instructions, and award guidance to reflect the change.
October 2, 2026
FDP Research Security Subcommittee Co-authorship and Foreign Components: A Discussion with NIH Extramural Leadership
- This document provides FAQs from a September 15, 2026, session between NIH leadership and the Federal Demonstration Partnership’s Research Security Subcommittee to help researchers and institutions determine when foreign co-authorship or collaboration counts as a “foreign component” of an NIH award, which requires prior NIH approval.
National Science Foundation (NSF)
October 8, 2026
NSF lays the foundation for the next generation of technologies and support for American talent
- NSF announced a new programs and initiatives in response to the White Houses’ Science: A New Golden Age report.
Department of Energy (DOE)
October 8, 2026
Energy Department Launches Genesis Mission Graduate Fellowship to Advance American Scientific Leadership
- The DOE is instituting the Genesis Mission Graduate Fellowship Pilot to “develop the next generation of American scientists and engineers” in response to the White Houses’ Genesis Mission.
& In Case You Missed It…
NIH NOT-OD-26-101: USG Policy for Stopping High-Risk Life Sciences Research in response to the United States Government Policy for Stopping High-Risk Life Sciences Research
- All NIH research activities identified as potential dangerous gain-of-function (DGOF) research per NOT-OD-25-127 and NOT-OD-25-112 remain paused until NIH specific implementation requirements are established.
- NIH is expected to release implementation guidance to support the government policy. The two main areas to be addressed are:
- Dangerous gain-of-function (DGOF) research: Research with a biological agent that seeks, achieves, or has a substantial risk of achieving one or more of the outcomes listed in the Policy and could result in significant negative societal consequences.
- International research of concern (IROC): Research conducted in a country of concern or outside of the United States by individuals or institutions of concern; or research that could reasonably pose a threat to public health, public safety, and economic or national security conducted in a country with inadequate oversight.
If you have agency updates you would like to add to future digests, email rei@wusm.wustl.edu.