Leadership Changes at CDC and NSF
In late February, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that Jay Bhattacharya, director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), will also serve as the acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). His interim appointment replaces Jim O’Neill, who had been serving as the acting director while simultaneously holding the role of deputy secretary of HHS. According to HHS, the leadership changes are part of an ongoing effort to reorganize agency operations and align leadership across federal health agencies.
Additionally, President Trump has nominated Jim O’Neill to serve as director of the National Science Foundation (NSF) for a six-year term. If confirmed, O’Neill would lead the federal government’s primary agency supporting basic scientific research and STEM education. Earlier in his career, O’Neill held roles at HHS, worked in biotechnology investment, and led organizations focused on longevity and biomedical innovation. He is also a co-founder of the Thiel Fellowship, which provides funding for young entrepreneurs pursuing ventures outside traditional academic pathways. The NSF has been without a permanent director since Sethuraman Panchanathan stepped down in April of last year.
Senate Passes Bill Reauthorizing SBIR/STTR Programs
The U.S. Senate unanimously passed the Small Business Innovation and Economic Security Act (S. 3971), which would extend the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs for five years. SBIR and STTR provide critical federal funding that helps small businesses translate research discoveries into commercial technologies, often in partnership with universities. The bill now moves to the House for consideration, where the earliest possible vote is expected after March 16.
Senate Commerce Committee Clears NASA and NOAA Bills
The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee recently advanced two bipartisan science and technology measures: the NASA Authorization Act of 2026 and the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2026. Both bills were approved during a committee markup and will now move forward for consideration by the full Senate.
The NASA authorization legislation provides policy direction and funding priorities for the agency, including support for ongoing space exploration efforts such as the Artemis program and continued operations of the International Space Station. The reauthorization of weather research and forecasting programs will expand resources at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The measure is intended to strengthen forecasting capabilities, modernize weather systems, and improve warnings for hazards such as hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires, and floods, while incorporating emerging technologies such as AI and commercial data sources.
NSF AI Education Act Introduced
On March 3, members of the Senate Commerce Committee introduced bipartisan legislation known as the NSF AI Education Act, which aims to expand scholarships and professional development opportunities focused on AI. The bill would authorize the NSF to award undergraduate and graduate scholarships in areas such as AI applications in agriculture, advanced manufacturing, and AI instruction, with priority given to students at rural institutions, tribal colleges, and minority-serving institutions. It also directs NSF to establish Centers of AI Excellence to support community colleges and calls for the development of publicly available guidance on incorporating AI into K–12 education, in coordination with federal education and science agencies. From here, the bill will be discussed and marked up in the committee.
GSA Proposes New Certification Requirements for Federal Grant Applicants
The General Services Administration (GSA) has proposed revisions to certification requirements in the System for Award Management (SAM) — the federal registration system required for organizations seeking federal grants or contracts. Under the proposal, organizations applying for or receiving federal financial assistance would be required to certify that they do not engage in unlawful discrimination based on race or color in federally funded programs.
Additional certifications would require organizations to attest that they do not support illegal activities that threaten public safety or national security and that they comply with federal immigration laws. If implemented, these changes would apply to all entities registering in SAM, including universities receiving federal research funding.