Biden’s Fiscal Year 2023 Budget Request

1/14/2022

WIH

President Biden’s budget request for Fiscal Year 2023 will likely be released later than anticipated. Per statute, presidential budget requests are to be released on the first Monday in February. Budget requests are usually released later than that, with the latest release expected sometime after Biden’s State of the Union address on March 1.

Complicating things further, Congress must pass appropriations for Fiscal Year 2022. As of now, a continuing resolution funds the government at FY21 levels through February 18. The House has passed, and Senate Democrats have introduced, appropriations legislation that makes increased investments in higher education, including increasing student financial assistance and strengthening graduate opportunities for underserved populations. The chairs and ranking members of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees met on January 13 to continue negotiations.

The National Science Board briefing on The State of U.S. Science and Engineering

Next week, the National Science Board (NSB) will hold a webinar on U.S. Science & Engineering indicators. The webinar will address the “State of U.S. Science and Engineering” report that will be released next week. The NSB prepares the biennial report to the President and Congress every even-numbered year. The report is prepared by the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES) within the National Science Foundation.

The report provides information on the state of the U.S. science and engineering enterprise over time and within a global context. To register for the webinar, click here.

National Endowments for the Arts and Humanities Announce Grant Awards

On January 11, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) announced awards for Fiscal Year 2022. The NEA announced grants to 1,498 institutions totaling $33.2 million and the NEH announced grants to 208 projects totaling $24.7 million. NEA Acting Chair Ann Eilers stated, “These National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) grants underscore the resilience of our nation’s artists and arts organizations, will support efforts to provide access to the arts, and rebuild the creative economy. The supported projects demonstrate how the arts are a source of strength and well-being for communities and individuals and can open doors to conversations that address complex issues of our time.”

NEH Acting Chair Adam Wolfson said regarding the 208 grants, “These NEH grants will support educators and scholars in enriching our understanding of the past and enable cultural institutions from across the country to expand their offerings, resources, and public programming, both in person and online. We look forward to the many new insights and discoveries that these 208 exemplary projects will make possible.” NEA awarded grants can be found here and NEH grants here.

White House Office of Science & Technology Policy Releases Scientific Integrity Task Force Report

This week, the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) released the report of its Scientific Integrity Task Force. The report is an assessment of scientific integrity policies and practices in the U.S. government. The President’s Science Advisor and OSTP Director Dr. Eric Lander stated in a press release, “The health, safety, and prosperity of the American people depend on reliable, technically-sound policies and communications from the Federal Government. This report is a comprehensive Federal assessment of what’s needed to protect science – and scientists and technologists – within the U.S. government, and a clear government-wide policy statement calling for decision-making at all levels to be informed by science without interference.”

Specific findings from the report:

Although small in number, violations of scientific integrity can significantly undermine Federal decision-making and public trust in science.
Existing Federal scientific integrity policies need to be strengthened to better deter inappropriate influence in the conduct, management, communication, and use of science.
Supporting scientific integrity requires attention to other policy areas, including greater transparency into research processes and outputs; clear guidelines for data and information that agencies release; and policies that promote safe, equitable workplaces free from harassment and discrimination.

Homeland Security Academic Advisory Council Reestablished

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced in the Federal Register their intention to reestablish the Homeland Security Academic Advisory Council (HSAAC). The primary purpose of the HSAAC will be to provide advice and recommendations to the Secretary and DHS senior leadership on matters related to homeland security and the academic community.

The HSAAC will consist of up to 30 members who are appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Secretary of Homeland Security. To ensure a diverse, inclusive, and balanced membership, candidates from the higher education community will include:

Up to four members representing higher education associations
Up to two members representing higher education law enforcement, public safety, and emergency management associations
Up to two members representing four-year colleges and universities
Up to two members representing two-year community colleges
Up to two members representing Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)
Up to two members representing Hispanic serving institutions
Up to two members representing Tribal colleges
Up to two members representing the Asian American, Native American and Pacific Islander serving institutions

CGS will keep institutions appraised when DHS starts soliciting for membership of HSAAC.