Overview
- Congress kept research appropriations roughly level in 2025, yet a substantial share has not reached researchers in early 2026.
- Federal agencies issued far fewer grants in 2025—thousands were canceled and some agencies made up to 25% fewer awards—while shifting to fewer, larger grants that intensified competition.
- Universities including the University of Pennsylvania, Columbia, Cornell, Northwestern and Brown restored targeted funding through 2025 settlements, though the enforcement of those deals remains unclear.
- Harvard sued in April 2025 over a $2.7 billion freeze, won a court order restoring funds, and now faces a government appeal filed in December 2025.
- Analysts report a move from high-profile confrontations to rule-making and other administrative tactics, warning that withholding or redirecting appropriated funds could trigger additional legal challenges if delays persist.