July 2025
Spotlight
SfN Advocates to Protect Biomedical Research Alongside Partners
Check out the latest response from SfN, including a recent letter from the NIH advocacy community to congressional leadership in support of NIH. Additionally, learn about how SfN engages with coalition partners as organizations continue to respond to Trump administration policies that harm biomedical research.
SfN's Statement on Federal Policy Actions Impacting Neuroscience
SfN urges federal agencies to halt actions that threaten the progress of biomedical research to ensure continued U.S. leadership in the neuroscience field.
Congress Passes FY25 Reconciliation Bill
The recent reconciliation bill — dubbed the “One Big Beautiful Bill”— passed through Congress and signed into law on July 4. Budget reconciliation is a unique legislative process that is focused on major policy changes and allows Congress to bypass the filibuster that would normally require 60 votes in the Senate and only has implications for current (FY25) budgets and programs. It does not determine funding levels for federal agencies for FY26. Both the House and Senate are currently working on their respective funding bills to set federal agencies' budgets for FY26.
SfN News
Urge Congress to Protect NIH and NSF Funding in FY26
Join fellow NeuroAdvocates in calling on Congress to halt federal destabilizing actions and to reject the proposed cuts to NIH and NSF in the FY26 President’s Budget Request.
Have Recent Federal Administrative Actions Impacted Your Research? Share Your Story
Share how the direct consequences of federal administrative actions, including funding freezes, grant cancellations, and proposed budget cuts, have impacted your research. SfN is collecting stories to share with policymakers and the community on the direct consequences of these actions. Share written answers anonymously or volunteer to share a video response.
Federal News
Congress Continues FY26 Appropriations Markups
The House of Representatives approved its Military Construction and Veterans Affairs (MilCon-VA) appropriations bill , the first funding bill for FY26. Overall, the bill would provide about $453 billion for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), including $945 million for the VA Medical and Prosthetic Research program. Similar to the FY25 House-passed bill, the measure includes a provision that would eliminate animal research using nonhuman primates, canines, and felines by 2026. The House Appropriations Committee will continue marking up draft appropriations bills with the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (LHHS) Bill on Thursday, July 24 and the Commerce, Justice and Science (CJS) Bill later this summer. The Senate Appropriations Committee will begin their markups with the CJS Bill on July 10, followed by LHHS on August 1 and MilCon-VA later in the year.
NIH Announces Changes to Funding Proposals Utilizing Animal Models
NIH announced during a joint workshop with the FDA that “all new NIH funding opportunities should incorporate language on consideration of NAMs. NIH will no longer seek proposals exclusively for animal models.” This policy aims to ensure that researchers browsing and applying for funding opportunities feel encouraged to utilize all available tools, including new approach methods (NAMs) and animal models. SfN and coalition partners will continue to engage and monitor this policy as it is implemented. Submit your comments to FDA and NIH by Monday, July 14 at 5:00 p.m. EDT.
House Energy and Commerce Committee Holds Hearing on HHS Budget
Watch the recent House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing on the FY26 Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) budget to hear about the priorities of both HHS Director Robert F. Kennedy Jr and members of Congress for HHS in FY26.
