White House announces $6 billion in science initiatives

The Trump administration announced science initiatives totaling $6 billion at its Science: A New Golden Age summit on Thursday. They included support for AI-powered scientific research, advanced computing facilities, accelerated doctoral training programs, and experiments with alternative approaches to research funding and peer review.

“This is the golden age,” President Donald Trump said during the event. “It wasn’t two years ago, but it is now.”

Initiatives announced at the event included:

• Computing commitments: Eleven companies pledged $2.4 billion in computing credits and AI tools to support DOE’s Genesis Mission, including $1 billion from Nvidia, $500 million from AMD, and $200 million from OpenAI.
• Accelerated STEM PhDs: DOE announced a $100 million Genesis Mission Graduate Fellowship program for accelerated four-year PhDs in AI and science or engineering in collaboration with DOE labs and industry partners. DOE plans to pilot the program with $20 million in FY27, while later funding will be contingent on appropriations. NSF also announced a six-year integrated bachelor’s-to-PhD program called NextGen Workforce.
• New NSF projects: NSF launched two $33 million Grand Research Challenge competitions focused on quantum applications and synthetic multicellularity, announced plans to invest up to $75 million over five years in AI-enabled laboratory instrumentation, and launched an X-Labs Consortium backed by more than $300 million in industry, philanthropic and research-partner commitments.
• AI-powered biomedical research: NIH, DOE, and Biohub launched a $1.8 billion virtual biology initiative to develop AI models of cells and biological systems. NIH also launched Generation Discovery to recruit 100 early-career scientists.
• Space and quantum technology: NASA and DOE expanded cooperation on space nuclear systems, while DOE identified eight scientific problems for a previously announced $215 million quantum computing competition.
  

White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Director Michael Kratsios described the announcement as “the most transformative day for the American scientific enterprise since the reshaping of the federal research ecosystem following World War II.” The announcements came shortly after the end of fiscal year 2026. Science agencies such as NIH and NSF awarded far fewer research grants than in previous years during those 12 months, and NSF faced criticism for leaving more than $1 billion of its budget unspent.

DHS proposes new fees for international student work program

The Department of Homeland Security proposed new fees for the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program last week. International students use the OPT program to gain work experience in their field after graduation. Under the proposed rule, an initial OPT recommendation would carry a $70,000 fee, which universities would be responsible for paying but could pass on to students or employers. STEM graduates looking to extend their OPT to a maximum of three years face an additional $30,000 fee. Comments on the proposed rule are due Nov. 9. (See AIP’s policy primer on OPT for more information.)

DHS argues the fees will deter fraud, protect American workers, and discourage employers from using OPT to circumvent H-1B visa requirements. The department warns it may have to eliminate OPT entirely without the fees. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Joseph Edlow has previously advocated eliminating the program.

NAFSA: Association of International Educators criticized the proposal, arguing it would undermine American innovation, economic growth, and workforce development. “The research is clear: international students don’t take opportunities from Americans, they create them,” said NAFSA CEO Fanta Aw.

NSF grants will be rewritten for “super intelligence”

A National Science Foundation official said agency grants will be rewritten to alter references to artificial intelligence to “Super Intelligence”, following a White House executive order. Speaking at a Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences webinar on Wednesday, division deputy directorate head Junping Wang said, “your program director may work with you by changing AI to SI,” in grant abstracts and related documents. Internal AI tools at the agency may summarize some grant submission materials, he added, “but not for making recommendations.”

Renaming existing grant materials would go beyond requirements in the September executive order. At the National Institutes of Standards and Technology, for example, a recent Super Intelligence update echoed the order by noting that it does not require “the alteration of previously issued regulations, Presidential actions, contracts, grants, or other historical documents.”

Jenessa Duncombe contributed reporting to today’s newsletter.

Also on our radar

• President Trump presented National Medals of Science to technology industry figures Elon Musk, Sergey Brin, Jensen Huang, and Lisa Su. National Medals of Technology and Innovation went to Michael Dell and Satya Nadella.
• The “Build America Caucus” in Congress released a bipartisan economic agenda. It calls for less scientific grant paperwork, new funding vehicles, and shared autonomous labs.
• Vice President JD Vance announced J-1 visa fraud investigations into nine universities: Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Brown, Pitt, UC Davis, Caltech, Arizona State, and MIT.
• The GAO concluded last week that the HHS unlawfully withheld $78 million in FY2025 funding from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). The Trump administration also sought to cancel another $28 million in FY2026 AHRQ funding through its recent “pocket rescission” proposal, a practice GAO deems unlawful.
• NSF wants to change the name of eight proposal review committees to align with new agency division names.

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All events are Eastern Time unless otherwise noted. Listings do not imply endorsement. Events beyond this week are listed on our website.

The House and Senate are in recess and will return Nov. 9.

Monday, October 12

Columbus Day, federal holiday

GSA: Connects 2026 (continues through Wednesday)

Hudson Institute: Trilateral US-Japan-Taiwan cooperation on physical AI
11:00 am - 12:00 pm

Tuesday, October 13

WSBR: October luncheon featuring NASA Deputy Administrator Matt Anderson
11:30 am - 1:30 pm

AMS: Navigating through work/life in government organizations
12:00 pm

SPARK: Origins of the NSPM-33 requirements
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Fermilab: Fusion: The promise, the progress and the path ahead
6:00 pm - 7:45 pm

Wednesday, October 14

Belfer Center: European nuclear deterrence future(s): NATO and beyond
11:00 - 12:30 pm

Atlantic Council: 2026 Energy & Defense Summit
12:15 pm - 6:30 pm

Bipartisan Policy Center: Bipartisan reforms to the FDA drug review process to spur innovation
1:00 - 2:00 pm

Thursday, October 15

AMS: Mapping your own path: Careers in environmental science
12:00 pm

AAAS: Where can STPF take you? Alumni career journeys
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Friday, October 16

Hudson: Outcompeting China through technology, industry, and allied power with Sen. Dave McCormick (R-PA)
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Saturday, October 17

NOAA: Science Advisory Board (continues Sunday)

Monday, October 19

EPA: Public meeting of the Science Advisory Board
11:00 am - 3:00 pm

Belfer Center: Recent developments in energy and nuclear power in Japan
12:00 - 1:15 pm

AAAS: 2026 AAAS Charles Valentine Riley Memorial Lecture
2:30 pm - 8:30 pm

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Deadlines indicated in parentheses. Newly added opportunities are marked with a diamond.

Job Openings

APS: Head of scientific programs (ongoing)
AAMC: Senior director, science policy and regulation (ongoing)
AAF: Technology and innovation policy analyst (ongoing)
MIT: Senior advisor, science and innovation policy advocacy (ongoing)
◆MIT: Senior policy advisor (ongoing)
ASCB: Executive director, Coalition for the Life Sciences (ongoing)
◆Senate: Professional staff on science and space, Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee (Oct. 16)
NSF: Chief of Research Security Strategy and Policy (Oct. 19)
AAAS: Pathways to Policy Fellowship (Nov. 1)
AIP: Science policy fellowship, Congress (Dec. 1)
LBNL: LBNL nonproliferation fellow (through January)

Solicitations

FAS: Public Impact S&T Initiative open call (ongoing)
NIH: RFI on proposed changes to reporting outcomes from NIH peer review (Oct. 13)
NIST: RFI on modernizing the National Vulnerability Database in the age of artificial intelligence (Oct. 13)
NIH: RFC on draft NIH Biosafety Policy for Research Involving Biohazards (Oct. 19)
HHS: RFI on electromagnetic fields, radiofrequency radiation, and wireless radiation exposure (Oct. 21)
NSF: RFC on notice of intent to integrate three NCSES workforce surveys (Oct. 27)
NSF: RFI on identifying the next generation of X-Labs topics (Oct. 30)
National Academies: Call for committee members for study evaluating DOE’s Milestone-Based Fusion Development program (Oct. 30)
DHS: RFC on proposed rule eliminating the discretionary 60-day grace period for H-1B and other visa holders (Nov. 10)
USGS: Call for nominations to the National Geospatial Advisory Committee (Nov. 16)
◆Commerce: RFI regarding the digitization and modernization of the NTRL (Nov. 16)
NIST: RFI on future needs for medical metrology and standards for medical imaging, devices, diagnostics and therapy (Nov. 30)
◆NASA: Human Lander Challenge for lunar communications (March 4)

Know of an opportunity for scientists to engage in science policy? Email us at fyi@aip.org.

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Do you have a story to tell about how science policy is impacting you?

AIP’s research team is gathering first-hand accounts from scientists, engineers, students, and staff whose careers have been affected by policy and funding changes over the past year. Volunteers can submit their stories via this online form. Participants’ stories will be added to the Niels Bohr Library & Archives digital repository as searchable, citable records — with options for anonymity and a five-year embargo period. Read more about the initiative here.

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News and views currently in circulation. Links do not imply endorsement.

White House

White House: Remarks by Director Michael Kratsios at the Science: A New Golden Age summit
Politico: Trump admin to receive $100 million in compute credits for AI science initiative
Politico: Read the charter for the White House’s ‘Super Intelligence Force’
FedScoop: One front door: What OMB’s new Login.gov mandate means for agencies
Joel Widder: Trump’s OMB is winning the ground game against American science (perspective)

Congress

Senate Appropriations Committee: Government watchdog: Trump illegally blocked health research funding
Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA): Beyer, Democrats statement on illegal impoundment of health research funds
Politico: Some Republicans want this watchdog agency to sue Trump
Science: November elections may bring little relief for scientists beleaguered by Trump
Politico: Democrats write AI rules for a Congress they don’t control, yet
Roll Call: Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) looks to federal testing role in AI safety framework
Inside Defense: Rep. Jeff Crank (R-CO): Golden Dome caucus must do more to advance missile defense agenda

Science, Society, and the Economy

New York Times: What are the biggest questions in science today? 100 scientists weigh in.
The Economist: This year’s Nobel science prizes are real-life sci-fi
Stat: The Nobel boys club (again)
Wired: OpenAI is pissing off a bunch of mathematicians—again
Nature: Top researchers are being misled by sham academic societies (audio)
Columbia Journalism Review: Fake Caroline (perspective by Tom Zeller Jr.)
IEEE Spectrum: IEEE report predicts tech that will transform lives

Education and Workforce

The Pitt News: Pitt professors join class-action lawsuit against NIH, alleging it censored scientific research
The Information: White House suspends visa program for Microsoft, other tech firms
Bloomberg: Trump visa crackdown raises questions for tech talent
Nature: Rising numbers of Asian and African PhD students choose to study in China
Chronicle of Higher Education: The college president who won’t shut up
MIT: What is the best path forward for AI in academia?
FedScoop: OPM launches beta AI chatbot for federal workforce data

Research Management

Science: ‘Complete devastation’: How NSF gutted its social sciences research
Nature: How we ditched presentations and embraced silence in our lab meetings (perspective by Manuel Spitschan)
The Geyser: Leave arXiv alone (audio)
Chemical & Engineering News: AI agents are not good at interpreting science. What can be done?
Nature: AI could undermine scientific independence in subtle ways (perspective by Fabio Motoki)

Labs and Facilities

American Nuclear Society: ITER welcomes last major component needed for core machine assembly
DOE Office of Science: DOE announces four national laboratory-led selections to advance robotics and automation for autonomous scientific discovery
Battelle: Battelle launches Genesis Mission high school fellowship to bring students into national laboratory research

Computing and Communications

Science: Problems in 22 scientific fields had solutions hiding in plain sight. An AI has found them
Washington Post: OpenAI releases progress on more than 300 math research problems, stunning humans
Quanta Magazine: As AI closed in on ‘unique games’ proof, researchers raced to beat the machines
Retraction Watch: OpenAI withdraws three preprints a day after releasing 722 manuscripts on unsolved math problems
Brookings: Trump’s ‘morally binding’ AI pact is not enough (perspective by Tom Wheeler)
The Atlantic: ‘Nothing about this was inevitable’
The Information: OpenAI researchers say they were fired for “prioritizing safety”
ITIF: FCC clears the way for faster broadband and satellite deployment, says ITIF

Space

Ars Technica: Why is NASA bringing 7,500 contractors back to work as civil servants?
NASA: NASA seeks US industry plans for commercial space stations
Wired: NASA just made nearly 1 TB of Artemis II data available to the public

Weather, Climate, and Environment

New York Times: After outcry, monitors the Trump administration tried to scrap return to sea
New York Times: Supreme Court hears Boulder climate case
New York Times: The science that has oil companies running scared (perspective by Jeff Goodell)
The Guardian: Scientists who put faith in technology less likely to take climate action

Energy

White House: National Energy Dominance Month
DOE Office of Inspector General: The Department of Energy has made limited progress implementing the Geospatial Data Act of 2018 (report)
Washington Post: Small nuclear reactors reach a big milestone

Biomedical

Science: ‘The anti-Fauci’? Lab-leak proponent listed in NIH directory but denies being hired
Inside Medicine: CDC’s new acting chief of staff is an RFK Jr. loyalist, insiders say. But she wasn’t always seen that way
New York Times: Kennedy plans federal vaccine injury initiative, drawing wary eye from experts
Stat: Dozens of Democrats vie for slots on key House health committees
Stat: Midterm elections: MAHA nearly invisible on campaign trail
Financial Times: What we know about the suspected plague case in Russia
NIH: NIH joins effort to build SI-ready data for predictive models of human biology

International Affairs

New York Times: In race with US, China struggles to recruit foreign AI researchers
University World News: Recruitment of international PhDs is rising sharply in Nordic countries
Science|Business: Concern after Europeans endorse US science agenda
Science|Business: EU governments to debate a 19-partnership Horizon Europe portfolio
Science|Business: European Open Science Cloud Federation opens for business
Research Professional: Researchers sound alarm over EU’s regulatory bonfires