Science Policy

Call to Action: Elevating Plant Science Priorities in Future NIH Common Fund Initiatives

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The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Common Fund is seeking input from the research community through a Request for Information (RFI) on potential new NIH-wide research initiatives. Responses are due September 19, 2026, providing an important opportunity for plant scientists to highlight how plant biology, plant-based research systems, and cross-disciplinary approaches can contribute to emerging … Read more

Call to Action: Protect Merit-Based Federal Research Funding

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The White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has proposed significant changes to the Uniform Guidance, the government-wide framework governing federal financial assistance. Of particular concern to the research community are proposed changes that could increase political and administrative oversight of federal grant awards, including additional review by senior agency officials and greater discretion … Read more

ASPB Joins Coalition Supporting Federal Agricultural Research

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ASPB has joined a broad coalition of agricultural, scientific, and farmer organizations in calling on Congress to strengthen oversight of recent changes within the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Research, Education, and Economics (REE) mission area. The letter emphasizes that federal agricultural research is “the backbone of American agricultural innovation” and plays a critical role in … Read more

ASPB Joins Coalition Supporting U.S. Forest Service Research Infrastructure

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ASPB has joined a coalition of scientific societies in expressing concern over proposed closures, consolidations, and reorganizations of US Forest Service (USFS) research facilities. The letter warns that these actions could “degrade and damage the Forest Service’s scientific capacity and its ability to collect and deliver critical information” that supports ecosystem health, forest management, and … Read more

ASPB Signs Letter Supporting NSF’s Full Research Mission

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ASPB has joined more than 40 scientific organizations in urging Congress to fully support the National Science Foundation (NSF) and reject the proposed elimination of the Directorate for Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences (SBE). In the letter, the organizations describe SBE as “an indispensable and essential part of the nation’s overall research enterprise” and emphasize … Read more