Overview
- The Office of Science and Technology Policy released a 90-page report that calls for funding models that favor individual researchers and new mission-driven labs over legacy research universities.
- An accompanying memo co-signed by OMB directs federal agencies to account for those priorities in their FY28 budget submissions and to test alternatives to conventional peer review to identify high-risk, high-reward ideas.
- The report elevates AI and selected physical-science and engineering areas such as semiconductors, quantum, space, robotics and nuclear research while urging a relative de-emphasis of some life-science funding.
- Critics and university groups have warned that the proposals to curb indirect-cost recovery and shift grants away from institutions could hollow out university research support, and lawmakers questioned the plan at a House Science Committee hearing.
- Implementation is uncertain because the report gives guidance rather than binding budget orders, previous court rulings rejected caps on indirect-cost reimbursement, and changes would affect how graduate students and early-career researchers receive support.