The Latest Updates on Research Funding and Executive Orders

ACSM is actively monitoring developments that directly affect our members and the broader research community. Check out updates from a significant boost to NIH funding in the Senate’s FY 2026 Labor-HHS bill to a GAO ruling on NIH’s grant obligations and a new Executive Order reshaping federal grantmaking, to a new CDC Director who brings fresh leadership to a critical agency.
Policy Corner | 2025 Reconciliation Bill: House, Senate & Final Law

The 2025 reconciliation bill, officially known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (OBBBA), underwent significant changes as it moved from the House to the Senate and ultimately became law.
FY26 Budget and the “One Big Beautiful Bill”

President’s FY 2026 Budget Released On May 30, 2025, the White House released the detailed Fiscal Year 2026 budget proposal, which outlines sweeping changes and deep funding cuts for both the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The NIH would see its discretionary budget slashed by nearly […]
Policy Corner | ACSM Introduces ‘Congress Plus’ Advocacy Platform

PHIT Bill Included in Reconciliation Bill On May 14, 2025, the House Ways and Means Committee passed its portion of the fiscal year (FY) 2025 reconciliation bill by a 26-19 vote, advancing several significant changes to Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs). Among the most notable provisions, the bill would, for the first […]
House Approves Budget Resolution, NIH Leadership and Grant Review Updates

Updates on potential Congressional tax cuts and spending reductions, progress on Jay Bhattacharya’s vetting for NIH directorship, and the resumption of NIH’s grant review meetings.
Policy Corner: Developments Associated With the New Administration

We continue to monitor and assess the rapidly changing developments in the nation’s capital and their potential impact on ACSM’s vision and mission. We are actively looking for opportunities to communicate ACSM’s position and influence decisions regarding the critical importance of scientific research and access to physical activity for all citizens. Here are the latest […]
Key Policies Shaping U.S. Governance in 2025

Extending Federal Funding Through March 14, 2025 On Dec. 20, 2024, the U.S. Congress passed a Continuing Resolution (CR), H.R. 10545, to extend federal funding and avert a government shutdown through March 14, 2025. The bipartisan measure maintains government operations at current funding levels and includes several key provisions: The CR also upholds existing policy provisions, […]
Policy Corner: Trump Nominees & Congress’s Lame Duck Session

The recent elections underscored the nation’s ongoing political divisions while highlighting key trends and shifts in voter priorities. Across the country, voters turned out to decide pivotal races for Congress, state legislatures and local offices, as well as ballot measures addressing issues like abortion rights, economic policy and voting access. Trump nominees President-Elect Donald Trump […]
November Updates: ACSM’s Health & Science Policy Committee, Lobbying for Student-Athlete Safety and FIMS

Health & Science Policy Committee Making Progress The Health & Science Policy (HSP) Committee is focusing on four tactics in support of the ACSM Strategic Plan and intends to complete them by the end of the year: ACSM, NFL Coalition Lobby for Student-Athlete Safety Federal legislation is making its way through Congress that would support […]
Post-Election Health Care Landscape

On Nov. 5, 2024, former President Donald Trump was re-elected as president. While not all congressional races have been settled, Republicans have gained control of the U.S. Senate and have maintained their majority in the House of Representatives. With the Senate and House now under Republican control, a unified congressional majority will enhance President-Elect Trump’s […]