Welcome to The Research Policy Dispatch

A weekly newsletter highlighting federal policy actions that impact academic research and funding. Highlights key actions from Congress, the White House, and federal agencies. Free to read, and complements the paid Research Policy Atlas dashboard.

2026 is going to be interesting. Probably not in a good way.

Dec 5, 2025

Federal science funding is being rerouted through new political and administrative channels. Institutions should prepare for a year where predictability and transparency may be in short supply.

Restarting Research: Key Reflections From the Federal Shutdown

Nov 14, 2025

Two Critical Challenges for Administrators as Agencies Resume Operations

On Pause

Oct 17, 2025

Sometimes the most productive thing you can do is pause. In policy and research administration alike, constant motion can feel like progress, but often the best insights often surface in stillness. This week, while Congress stands still, maybe it’s an invitation to take stock, breathe, and prepare for the next turn. Not every week has to be a sprint.

The Next Frontier: Rethinking Research

Oct 10, 2025

As research units navigate funding pressure from the government, years of systemic strain and institutional inertia, choices about what to preserve and how to focus effort have never been more critical, but also never more confusing. This moment calls for different thinking to support meaningful work and discovery. This week are some thoughts on where to begin.

Shutdown Edition

Oct 3, 2025

This week marked the start of the new federal fiscal year, but the government entered FY2026 in a shutdown. While shutdowns aren’t unprecedented—the most notable recent examples include the 35-day lapse in 2018–2019 under the Trump administration over border wall funding, and the 2013 shutdown during the Obama administration—news coverage often focuses on the politics. Let’s take a step back and look at what this actually means for the federal budget and research funding.