Interim Report on Behavioral Science Funding from the Federation of Associations in Brain and Behavioral Science

On August 20, 2025, I remotely attended a FABBS (Federation of Associations in Brain and Behavioral Sciences, of which AAPB is a member organization) interim meeting, where the leadership reported the current status of federal support for behavioral science. As can be gleaned from newspaper reports, the current status is dismal. Many grants have been abruptly terminated, often with little notice to investigators about how to proceed, although a continuing resolution has maintained some funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation (NSF). The Office of Management and Budget (part of the Executive branch) particularly disfavors behavioral research. Offices for behavioral research at NIH and NSF have been eliminated. Although a number of Republican senators have previously shown enthusiastic support for behavioral research, there is great reluctance to oppose the president on important funding issues.

FABBS staff has particularly focused their efforts on cultivating relationships with Republican senators who have shown previous support, in hopes of persuading some of them to part course with the Office of Management and Budget recommendations.

Researchers are being asked to write to their senators and congressional representatives about the importance of their research to national health and welfare and to describe the damage done by abrupt funding cuts. Final budget legislation has not yet been passed, and there still is an opportunity to restore funding for some of our research.