Policy Update (16 September 2025)

The fiscal year ends on 30 September. On 16 September, House Republican leadership released a Continuing Resolution (CR) which would fund the government until 21 November. A CR is a short-term stopgap that extends the previous year’s spending levels into the beginning of FY2026, and it is used to give Congress more time to reach consensus on all 12 appropriations bills. It is still unclear if or when this CR will pass both chambers. Expect more development on the FY2026 funding front this week, as both chambers will be on recess the following week in observance of Rosh Hashanah. When Congress returns on Monday, 29 September, it will have just two days to pass a CR. For the latest information about FY2026 appropriations and other recent space and science policy updates, see: 

• How We’re Thinking about This Massive Week (Punchbowl) 
• What’s Happening in Space Policy 14-20 September 2025 (SpacePolicyOnline) 
• What’s Ahead: The Week of Sept. 8th, 2025 (AIP FYI) 

On 4 September, the full House narrowly passed its Energy and Water Development (EWD) spending bill, with no changes to the astronomy provisions that we outlined in our July blog post. As reported by AIP FYI, this EWD bill has significant cuts to Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy programs across the US. On 10 September, the full House Appropriations Committee passed their Commerce, Justice, and Science (CJS) spending bill on a party line vote. As reported by Marcia Smith at SpacePolicyOnline, the Appropriations Committee adopted a manager’s amendment offered by Rep. Hal Rogers that includes supportive language for the continued operation of New Horizons, Juno, the continued funding of Chandra, and a regular cadence of science-driven, lower-cost missions to Mars. You can read the full list of changes to the House CJS bill here. 

Meanwhile, a district court is allowing the continued mass termination of over $1 billion in the National Science Foundation (NSF) grants while litigation proceeds between a coalition of science societies, led by the American Association of Physics Teachers, versus the NSF. The coalition is represented by Democracy Forward. 

The AAS and multiple other science organizations have drafted a letter to congressional leadership about our collective concerns over the Executive Order titled “Improving Federal Oversight of Federal Grantmaking.” The letter urges Congress “to urgently exercise its oversight authority to prevent potentially significant damage to US leadership in scientific and medical research.” It is currently circulating for signatures from other science societies, and we plan on sending it to congressional leadership next week. We will share the final version of the letter, with its complete list of signatories, in our next blog post. 

The AAS has been helping our members contact their congressional offices to get help with significant delays in the disbursement of grants. If you are experiencing issues with grant disbursement, please fill out this form. 

The AAS partnered with the American Physical Society to release a new Action Alert in response to the administration’s new proposal for changes to visas for international students and researchers. Take action now to submit a comment to the Department of Homeland Security. It only takes a few minutes. 

The AAS is partnering with The Planetary Society, the American Geophysical Union, and other organizations for a Day of Action to Save NASA Science on 5-6 October 2025. Participants will hold congressional meetings on the Hill to preserve NASA Science funding for FY2026 and ensure that active science missions are not prematurely canceled. If you are interested in participating, please register here. 

If you have questions or comments, please email [email protected].