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Lewis and Burke Announcements, Roundup & Funding Opportunities

Last Updated: 10/08/2026

Below are Lewis and Burke Announcement, Roundup and Funding Opportunities. Please read each carefully. Also, please reach out to Anthony Mayo in the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs for additional details orsp-preaward@newark.rutgers.edu 

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Funding Opportunity: ARPA-H Announces New SURPASS Program to Modernize Clinical Trials

The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) recently announced its new Simulation-augmented, Real-time Platform Adaptive Seamless Trials (SURPASS) program which “aims to modernize today’s clinical trials so they can evaluate drugs and biologics faster, at lower cost, and with fewer participants than conventional approaches.” In particular, SURPASS will support projects that can establish sustainable, adaptive platforms that leverage predictive computational models, shared trial infrastructure, common control groups, and real-time analysis to improve decision-making and accelerate the drug development process.

 

ARPA-H will be hosting two optional opportunities to convene interested parties and provide a platform to ask questions and make connections. The first event is an informational webinar on October 15, 2026, with a registration deadline of October 12, 2026. ARPA-H will also be hosting a hybrid Proposer’s Day in Washington, DC on November 6, 2026, with a registration deadline of October 28, 2026. To register for one or both of these events, please find more information here.

 

Following these opportunities, a required Solution Summary will be due on November 30, 2026. ARPA-H will provide additional feedback to proposers before inviting full proposals due on January 22, 2027.

 

Funding Opportunity: NOAA Releases Coastal Flood Protection Research Program

The National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) recently released a new research program seeking to improve coastal flood protection through public-private partnerships, innovative insurance products, and improved sediment management. Solicited through NOAA’s National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) Competitive Research Program, one to six projects are expected to be funded between $500,000 and $2 million per year, with no cost share required. With an estimated project start date of September 1, 2027, projects may be awarded up to four years, though shorter-term project proposals are encouraged. Successful projects will support state-of-the-art information and products to advance the use of natural infrastructure for coastal flood protection. Applications should address one or more of the following priority areas:

  • Priority 1: Improve product delivery through the private sector
  • Priority 2: Innovating insurance mechanisms for natural coastal flood defense
  • Priority 3: Supporting sediment management practices

Eligibility is open to institutions of higher education, nonprofits, for-profits, state and local, and tribal governments, and federal applicants (including NOAA) which may receive funds from another agency. The funding opportunity details specific instructions for NOAA Cooperative Institute (NOAA) or Cooperative Ecosystem Study Unit (CESU) applicants. Multiorganizational partnerships are necessary to be competitive for the opportunity. Letters of intent are due to nccos.grant.awards@noaa.gov by November 9, 2026, with full applications due by February 12, 2027. An informational webinar on the solicitation will be offered on October 20, 2026, at 3:00 PM ET, with the meeting link to be posted here.

The full writeup is available here: Funding Opportunity – NOAA Releases Coastal Flood Protection Research Program.pdf

 

Engagement Opportunity: FDA Launches Nationwide Effort to Fill Advisory Committee Vacancies

On September 30, 2026, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a nationwide recruitment effort to bring 230 new scientific experts and consumer representatives to its advisory committees. These committees convene scientific experts such as physicians, researchers, and biostatisticians, as well as patient and consumer advocates, to evaluate evidence on FDA-regulated products and help the agency make informed decisions on behalf of the American public.

Candidates in numerous fields, such as oncology, cardiovascular medicine, neurology, genetics, medical devices, and others, are encouraged to submit applications through the FDA Advisory Committee Membership Nomination portal.

Nominees for scientific and technical positions must be able to demonstrate expertise in the subject matter topic of the relevant advisory committee. They must also be able to interpret complex scientific information, understand the public health significance of issues before the relevant committee, and possess the ability to provide objective and independent advice. Consumer representative nominees should be able to demonstrate affiliation with or participation in relevant consumer or community-based organizations, possess the ability to analyze technical data, weigh pros and cons, and evaluate product safety and efficacy from the perspective of the public. In addition to self-nominations, nominations may also be submitted by independent supporters on behalf of candidates, and there is no limit on the number of nominations or committees that may be submitted for.

All candidates for advisory committees will be required to submit a completed curriculum vitae; an acknowledgment and consent form; a written confirmation that the nominee is aware of the nomination (unless self-nominated); and for consumer representative applications, include a cover letter that lists consumer or community organizations for which the nominee can demonstrate active participation. Potential candidates will also be asked to provide detailed information concerning their financial holdings, employment, and research grants and/or contracts in order to determine potential conflicts of interest.

Nominees will be considered on a rolling basis for current and anticipated vacancies, although priority consideration will be given to consumer representative applications submitted by November 15, 2026, as well as to scientific and technical voting member positions submitted by November 30, 2026. Applications received after those dates will be considered for later vacancies as they arise. Members will serve terms of up to four years. Please find information below on specific FDA advisory committee vacancies that are currently available at the time of this notice’s writing, and the links include further information on expertise required for each vacancy:

  • Blood, Vaccines, Biological Products Committee Vacancies
    • Blood Products Advisory Committee – Seven Vacancies
    • Cellular, Tissue and Gene Therapies Advisory Committee – Nine Vacancies
    • Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee – Ten Vacancies
  • Drug Products Committee Vacancies
    • Anesthetic and Analgesic Drugs Advisory Committee – Four Vacancies
    • Antimicrobial Drugs Advisory Committee – Ten Vacancies
    • Cardiovascular and Renal Drugs Advisory Committee – Three Vacancies
    • Dermatologic and Ophthalmic Drugs Advisory Committee – Ten Vacancies
    • Drug Safety and Risk Management Advisory Committee – Four Vacancies
    • Endocrinologic and Metabolic Drugs Advisory Committee – Six Vacancies
    • Genetic Metabolic Diseases Advisory Committee – Seven Vacancies
    • Nonprescription Drugs Advisory Committee – Nine Vacancies
    • Obstetrics, Reproductive, and Urologic Drugs Advisory Committee – Six Vacancies
    • Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee – Ten Vacancies
    • Peripheral and Central Nervous System Drugs Committee – Three Vacancies
    • Psychopharmacologic Drugs Advisory Committee – Six Vacancies
    • Pulmonary-Allergy Drugs Advisory Committee – Four Vacancies
  • Medical Devices and Radiation-Emitting Products Committee Vacancies
    • Device Good Manufacturing Practice Advisory Committee – Nine Vacancies
    • Technical Electronic Product Radiation Standards Advisory Committee – Fifteen Vacancies
    • Medical Devices Advisory Committee
      • Anesthesiology and Respiratory Therapy Devices Panel – Two Vacancies
      • Circulatory System Devices Panel – Two Vacancies
      • Clinical Chemistry and Clinical Toxicology Devices Panel – Five Vacancies
      • Dental Products Devices Panel – Three Vacancies
      • Ear, Nose and Throat Devices Panel – Two Vacancies
      • Gastroenterology and Urology Devices Panel – Five Vacancies
      • General and Plastic Surgery Devices Panel – Five Vacancies
      • General Hospital and Personal Use Devices Panel – Five Vacancies
      • Hematology and Pathology Devices Panel – Five Vacancies
      • Immunology Devices Panel – Seven Vacancies
      • Medical Devices Dispute Resolution Panel – Six Vacancies
      • Microbiology Devices Panel – Seven Vacancies
      • Molecular and Clinical Genetics Panel – Four Vacancies
      • Neurological Devices Panel – Four Vacancies
      • Obstetrics and Gynecology Devices Panel – Four Vacancies
      • Ophthalmic Devices Panel – Seven Vacancies
      • Orthopaedic and Rehabilitation Devices Panel – Four Vacancies
      • Radiological Devices Panel – Five Vacancies
  • Science Board to the FDA, Risk Communication, and Pediatrics Vacancies
    • Science Board to the Food and Drug Administration – Fourteen Vacancies
    • Pediatrics Advisory Committee – One vacancy
  • Tobacco Advisory Committee Vacancies
    • Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee – One vacancy

Engagement Opportunities: Federal Advisory Committee Nomination Opportunities (September 28, 2026)

Please see the latest list of Federal Advisory Committee Nomination openings. Opportunities are currently available across the following committees:

  • National Vaccine Advisory Committee, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
  • National Geospatial Advisory Committee, US Geological Survey (USGS), Department of the Interior (DOI) 
  • Resource Advisory Councils (RACs), Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Department of the Interior (DOI)
  • National Assessment Governing Board, National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), Department of Education (ED)

The full writeup is available here: Federal Advisory Committee Nomination Opportunities September 28, 2026.pdf

 

Policy Update: Executive Order on Disease-Carrying Pests

On September 29, President Trump signed an executive order, Eliminating Disease-Carrying Pests and Restoring Enjoyment of the Great Outdoors. It makes it federal policy to suppress tick and mosquito populations through non-chemical, technology-enabled approaches: habitat management, natural predators, sterile insect techniques, and biotechnology-based control tools. It also calls for better diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases spread by ticks and mosquitoes, including Lyme disease, alpha-gal syndrome, West Nile, and dengue. The centerpiece is a Washington, D.C. demonstration. Within 60 days (on or about November 28), Interior, USDA, EPA, and GSA, consulting with HHS, must develop and launch a campaign to cut invasive mosquitoes (Asian tiger and Aedes aegypti) by 90 percent and ticks by 50 percent across D.C. by 2028. The campaign is meant to serve as a model for national expansion.

On the same timeline, EPA must deliver a regulatory framework for releasing sterilized, genetically modified, and bacteria-based control technologies into the environment. That framework is to draw on academic centers and industry and align with EO 14292 on biological research safety. EPA must also speed registration of new products it finds safe and effective. Within 90 days (on or about December 28), HHS and USDA must each issue prize competitions under 15 U.S.C. 3719 or direct research programs. HHS’s focus is diagnostics, preventives, and treatments, building on what the order calls the Lyme Disease Moonshot, plus a research agenda for alpha-gal immunotherapies. USDA’s focus is non-chemical control methods.

The EPA framework explicitly asks for input from academic centers. However, it goes directly to the President rather than through a public comment process, so the window for input is informal and short. Institutions and societies with expertise in vector biology, entomology, and biotechnology regulation should contact EPA, USDA, and HHS now. The D.C. campaign’s preference for commercial partners and cooperative agreements may open partnership opportunities for area institutions. Whether HHS and USDA choose prizes or research programs also matters: prizes reward results rather than fund the research behind them, which tends to favor product-ready teams over basic science. On funding, Section 3(f) only directs agencies to review available resources with OMB, and the order is subject to appropriations. Implementation will therefore likely draw on existing accounts, which could squeeze current research portfolios on these diseases.

 

The government is operating under a continuing resolution at largely current levels through December 11 (P.L. 119-103). The 90-day deliverables will therefore land during the post-election push to finish FY2027 funding. That is a window to seek report language that funds these priorities without displacing existing research. Researchers working on conventional insecticides, insecticide resistance, or gene drives should also note two things: the order’s emphasis on non-chemical methods, and that EPA’s framework goes to the President through the Homeland Security Advisor, under EO 14292’s biosafety framing.

 

NOTE: The policy landscape is rapidly changing. Everything written is to the best of our knowledge at the time of writing on October 2, 2026.

As the fiscal year just ended, both the House and Senate are on recess ahead of the November midterm elections, leaving the appropriations process largely stalled. The Senate has yet to advance its 12 annual appropriations bills, while the government is operating under a continuing resolution (CR) through December 11. With relatively few legislative days remaining before that deadline, Congress will need to either complete full-year appropriations or extend the CR to avoid a funding lapse.

Meanwhile, the appropriations process has been complicated by the White House Office of Management and Budget’s late-September proposal to rescind $810 million across 11 accounts. While the package has limited direct implications for environmental research, the dispute has broader implications for congressional control of appropriated funds. On September 29, the Government Accountability Office concluded that the Impoundment Control Act of 1974 does not permit the Administration to withhold the affected funds beyond the end of FY2026 unless Congress rescinds them.

The executive agencies and departments with multi-year funds continue to work towards obligating their remaining FY 2026 resources, while implementing White House science and technology priorities. For environmental and life-science researchers, new opportunities are emerging: the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA’s) Climate Program Office recently announced a $10 million Earth System Science and Services Partnerships focused on research, observations, and modeling; NOAA’s National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science also put out their competitive research program focused on coastal resilience; the National Science Foundation is also expanding its X-Labs initiative and has announced a forthcoming “Sequence to Function” topic focused on biological engineering. Simultaneously, the Administration is also advancing a range of actions under 2026 Regulatory Plan and the Unified Agenda including actions affecting environmental and agricultural regulation. The White House also has released several Executive Orders that aim to address vector borne disease as well as a series of environmental topics including land conservation, invasive species, and water quality linked to the Make America Beautiful Again Initiative.
Congressional Updates

 

Executive Updates

 

Funding and Engagement Opportunities
Farm Bill Advances in Senate as Congress Works Toward Reauthorization

The Senate Agriculture Committee advanced its Farm Bill on September 16 in a 12-11 party-line vote, with the return of Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) providing Republicans the vote needed to move the legislation out of committee. The bill now heads to the Senate floor, though limited legislative time before the midterm elections could push consideration until the Senate returns later this year.

 

Prospects for completing a final Farm Bill this year will depend in part on whether lawmakers can reach bipartisan agreement on outstanding issues, particularly changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) cost-share requirements. During the committee meeting, Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) also sought consideration of an amendment addressing California’s Proposition 12, but Chairman John Boozman (R-AR) declined to reopen the amendment process. If Congress is unable to reach agreement on a final package before existing authorities expire, lawmakers may need to consider another Farm Bill extension.

 

House Advances Energy and Infrastructure Bills Under Suspension

 

In mid-September, the House approved several bipartisan bills under suspension focused on energy infrastructure, critical minerals, and water research. The Ratepayer Protection Act (H.R. 9340) would require states to consider policies ensuring large data centers cover the costs of electric grid upgrades needed to meet their power demands. The Affordable Innovation for the Grid Act (H.R. 9339) would direct the Department on Energy to assess how artificial intelligence can improve electric grid operations and reliability. The CHARM Act (H.R. 9617) would require the Environmental Protection Agency to develop a national strategy for recovering critical minerals from discarded materials. Lastly, The Advancing Water Research and Collaboration Act of 2025 (H.R. 7889) would reauthorize the Water Resources Research Act Program through fiscal year (FY) 2029 and would authorize $16 million annually for the U.S. Geological Survey research program and allow up to 20 percent of the funding to be used to reimburse research on regional and interstate water issues. The program’s authorization expired at the end of FY 2025, but it continued to receive funding in FY 2026. Notably, the administration proposed eliminating the program in its FY 2027 budget request. Several of these bills have companion bills being considered in the Senate and which may have a possibility of being approved as a part of end-of-year legislation.

 

House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology Holds a Hearing on Advancing Technology for Disaster Prevention

 

On September 15, 2026, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology held a hearing titled “Innovation in Disaster Prevention: Advancing Technology for Prediction and Response.” The goal of the hearing was to explore how emerging research and cutting-edge technologies can accelerate the next generation of warning systems for natural disasters, and how continued investment in this research can translate into information for emergency managers, first responders, infrastructure operators, and the public. The conversation centered on technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), satellite remote sensing, autonomous aerial/ground platforms, and next-generation environmental data infrastructure. The hearing highlighted critical barriers to deployment of these technologies including fragmented interagency funding streams, procurement bottlenecks, and outdated baseline environmental datasets.

 

Key recommendations included updating federal precipitation frequency estimates via NOAA Atlas 15, expanding similar predictive hazard mapping initiatives for wildfire, mudslide, and coastal storm risks, establishing an Interagency Disaster Innovation Center to bring modeling and risk-reduction data together across federal agencies, and maintaining robust funding for foundational Earth science programs.

 

Congress Moves to Strengthen Biotechnology and Biological Data Security

 

On September 24, a bipartisan group of senators and representatives introduced two bills focused on protecting biotechnology and biological data as critical infrastructure. The Protecting Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing as Critical Infrastructure Act would direct the Department of Homeland Security and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to develop a framework for protecting biotechnology, while the Protecting Biological Data as Critical Infrastructure Act would direct CISA to focus on protecting sensitive biological data.

 

The bills, introduced by Senators Todd Young and Maggie Hassan and Representatives Stephanie Bice, Ro Khanna, and Scott Peters, reflect recommendations from the 2025 National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology (NSCEB). The NSCEB has identified biological data as an essential resource for AI-enabled scientific discovery, while also highlighting security risks if sensitive genomic and biometric information is compromised. On Capitol Hill, there has been a broader push to treat biotechnology as a national security issue. Earlier this year, Congress introduced legislation to improve access to biological data for AI-enabled research.
White House Proposes $810 Million in Rescissions, GAO Weighs In

 

On September 25, the White House transmitted an $810 million rescission package covering 11 federal appropriation accounts, primarily involving international assistance, immigration, education, housing, and other domestic programs. The package has limited direct implications for environmental programs; the principal environmental provision is an $8.7 million proposed rescission from Treasury’s Tropical Forest and Coral Reef Conservation Act Program, which supports debt-for-nature arrangements involving tropical forests and coral reefs and which is supported out of International Affairs.

 

While the package is not broadly focused on environmental funding, it is likely to have broader implications for appropriations and the balance of congressional and executive authority over federal spending and has already garnered significant attention from bipartisan members. The Government Accountability Office concluded on September 29 that the Impoundment Control Act does not permit the Administration to withhold the funds beyond the end of the fiscal year (FY) unless Congress enacts the proposed rescissions, emphasizing Congress’s constitutional power of the purse. Because the congressional consideration period extends beyond the September 30 expiration of the affected FY 2026 funds, the dispute could shape how Congress and the Administration approach enacted appropriations and rescissions in future budget negotiations.

 

Administration Advances Agriculture, Wildlife, Fisheries, and Water Priorities

 

This September, the Trump Administration issued several Executive Orders (EOs) aligned with the Administration’s Make America Beautiful Again initiative focus on federal lands, natural resources, outdoor recreation, and domestic agricultural production. While several of these EOs focus on ranging, livestock markets and hunting and are not directly relevant to the environmental research community, a handful are relevant to wildlife conservation and ecosystems. For example, in addition to expanding access to federal land for hunting, the Reinvigorating America’s Hunting Heritage EO directs the Secretaries of War, Interior, and Agriculture to develop conservation plans to enhance the viability of large game species, with attention to habitat connectivity, invasive species, wildlife disease, and habitat management tools such as prescribed fire and grazing – and address topics relating to data collection. The American Saltwater Angling and Recreation EO directs the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to modernize recreational fisheries data collection, including greater use of electronic reporting and real-time data, and to evaluation how state-level data can be incorporated into federal fisheries management. It also calls for pilot programs for depleted recreational fisheries and a new federal program to facilitate the conversion of eligible offshore structures into artificial reefs. Another EO, Providing Meaningful Water Quality Improvements Through Collaboration and Oversight of Federal Support revoked a 2009 Chesapeake Bay Executive Order and directs federal agencies to prioritize products that that will lead to measurable reductions in nutrient and sediment runoff, while directing the Environmental Protection Agency to work with Chesapeake Bay jurisdictions on water-quality efforts and stormwater management fees. The order emphasizes empirical data, performance indicators, and measurable outcomes in directing Federal resources.

 

Executive Order Targets Tick and Mosquito-Borne Disease Through Biotechnology and Research

 

On September 29, President Trump signed an executive order, Eliminating Disease-Carrying Pests and Restoring Enjoyment of the Great Outdoors. It makes it federal policy to suppress tick and mosquito populations through non-chemical, technology-enabled approaches: habitat management, natural predators, sterile insect techniques, and biotechnology-based control tools. The order also calls for better diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases spread by ticks and mosquitoes, including Lyme disease, alpha-gal syndrome, West Nile, and dengue.

 

The order’s centerpiece is a Washington, D.C. demonstration project. Within 60 days, which falls on or about November 28, the Department of Interior (DOI), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the General Services Administration (GSA), in consultation with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), must develop and launch a campaign targeting a 90 percent reduction in invasive mosquito populations and a 50 percent reduction in ticks by 50 across D.C. by 2028. The campaign is meant to serve as a model for national expansion. EPA is also directed within 60 days to develop a regulatory framework for the environmental release of advanced tick and mosquito control technologies, including sterilization techniques, genetic modification, and beneficial bacteria, with input from academic centers and industry. Within 90 days, on or about December 28, HHS and USDA are directed to issue prize or research competitions focused on diagnostics, preventives, and treatments, building on what the order calls the “Lyme Disease Moonshot,” plus a research agenda for alpha-gal immunotherapies.

 

The EPA biotechnology framework explicitly calls for input from academic centers and from industry, creating an opportunity for institutions or individuals with specialized expertise in vector biology, entomology, biotechnology, biosafety, and regulatory science to engage with agencies and with the Office of Science and Technology Policy. The preference for commercial capabilities and cooperative agreements in the D.C. demonstration could also create opportunities for partnerships. However, the order does not provide dedicated funding. Implementation will be subject to appropriations and to plans to incorporate new programs into their portfolios in the next fiscal year, and agencies themselves will now be working towards the 60-to-90-day directives.

 

NSF Leadership Responds to Align with New Golden Age of Science Report

 

Brian Stone, the Acting National Science Foundation (NSF) Director, published a letter on September 10, 2026, outlining a series of changes to how NSF will select, fund, and organize scientific research. Stone frames the overhaul as consistent with the White House’s “Science: A New Golden Age” report and the Fiscal Year 2028 R&D memo.

 

The letter’s central message is a shift toward “portfolio-based” grantmaking, in which funding mechanisms are matched to the nature of the research. NSF says it will expand award durations of five years or longer for exceptional researchers, while also expanding shorter, faster-turnaround grants built on its existing EAGER and RAPID mechanisms. The agency plans to distinguish “investigator-driven” funding from “NSF-directed” funding tied to milestones, prizes, or challenges, and says it will announce a series of “Grand Research Challenges” in the coming months. It also plans to experiment with new peer-review models, including “Golden Tickets” that let individual reviewers champion proposals that might not survive panel consensus.

 

The letter also outlines plans for a new Office of Metascience, intended to evaluate the agency’s funding and review practices, scale what works, retire what does not, and publish its findings publicly. The new office is also envisioned to support additional computing capacity to meet a goal of doubling the federally-funded scientific productivity by 2036. Separately, NSF is launching four Frontier Initiatives, which will focus on: Future of Intelligence, Frontier of Quantum Phenomena, Advanced Materials and Matter, and Foundations of Biological Design each led by a Frontier Initiative Lead based in the Office of the Director.

 

The letter ties much of this to the national Genesis Mission effort to apply AI to scientific discovery, pointing to an earlier Dear Colleague Letter encouraging AI-enabled research proposals, investment in AI-ready datasets and a new network of programmable cloud laboratories, and expanded compute access through the National AI Research Resource and new State and Regional AI Infrastructure Hubs.

 

EPA Expands Research on Emerging Drinking Water Contaminants and Water Reuse

 

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has launched a new scientific study using non-targeted analysis (NTA) to identify a broad range of potential contaminants in drinking water, including pharmaceuticals, PFAS, and more than 1,000 other potential pollutants. Unlike conventional analytical methods that look for specific chemicals, NTA can screen samples for known and previously unidentified compounds. The EPA intends for the results to inform future research and regulatory priorities and complement other Safe Drinking Water Act efforts, including the draft Sixth Contaminant Candidate List, which for the first time identifies microplastics and pharmaceuticals as priority contaminant groups.

 

The research effort comes as EPA is also elevating water reuse as a national and international priority. The EPA announced its Water Reuse Action Plan 2.0 earlier this year and on September 15, Administrator Zeldin launched a G20 Water Reuse Initiative, with all G20 members agreeing to an EPA-led outcome document promoting a “fit-for-purpose” approach to treating and reusing water for applications in areas including industry, agriculture, and energy. The initiative emphasizes scientific assessment, local conditions, water-supply resilience, and private-sector technology and investment. Together, the actions point to growing federal interest in analytical science and technology to address emerging contaminants while expanding water supplies through reuse, with the research agenda on this yet to be defined.

 

EPA Moves to Repeal Remaining Power Plant Greenhouse Gas Standards

 

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it has finalized repeal of most of the Biden Administration’s 2024 greenhouse gas (GHG) standards for fossil fuel-fired power plants and proposed eliminating all remaining federal GHG emissions standards for the power sector. The EPA has estimated that the finalized repeal will result in approximately $310 billion in projected savings, while the additional proposed repeal would eliminate an estimated $370 million in direct compliance costs. The final rule would remove remaining standards covering new, modified, and reconstructed fossil-fuel-fired generating units, including requirements based on carbon capture and storage and efficiency improvements.

 

These actions represent a significant change in the federal approach to regulating power-sector GHG emissions. EPA is relying, in part, on its 2026 rescission of the 2009 GHG Endangerment Finding and argues that Clean Air Act Section 111 does not authorize regulation of power-plant emissions based on global climate effects. The proposed repeal remains subject to public comment, with EPA planning a public hearing on October 1-2 and a 45-day comment period, with the rule set to go into effect in November. The Federal Register remains open for comment here through November 2, 2026. For the energy and environmental research communities, the changes could shift federal attention toward conventional air pollutants, power-system reliability, and emissions monitoring rather than regulatory approaches designed specifically to reduce power-sector GHG emissions. More information is available on the EPA webpage here.

 

U.S. Group on Earth Observations Completes 2026 Satellite Needs Survey

 

The White House National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) U.S. Group on Earth Observations (USGEO) opened the 2026 Satellite Needs Survey on June 4, 2026, and closed the Survey on August 28, 2026. The Satellite Needs Survey is a biannual process which obtains information about key Federal agency objectives that require the application of satellite Earth observations, as well as specific measurement requirements. The survey is conducted to identify potential data gaps in the current National Aeronautic and Space Administration (NASA)

program of record and existing data resources that meet agency needs. Survey results are then shared with NASA, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
DOE Releases FY 2027 Broad Agency Announcement with Some Environmental Opportunity

 

Each year, the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science (SC) releases its Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) encompassing funding opportunities for single or multiple principal investigator-initiated projects across fundamental energy disciplines. While the announcement is technically active until the end of the fiscal year (September 30, 2027), the DOE BAA details specific deadlines and funding levels dependent on the program and topic area. For example, the Biological Environmental Research (BER) program will accept pre-applications until December 22, 2026, for projects under the topics: Microbial Biosystems Design, Classical and Quantum-enabled Bioimaging and Sensing, and Low Dose Radiation Research. These topics differ greatly from last year’s solicitations focusing on the earth-energy nexus and the impacts of severe weather on critical infrastructure, signaling a shift in BER’s focus consistent with the proposed changes to the Bioenergy Research Centers (see article below). Another office of interest in the BAA includes the Basic Energy Sciences (BES) which offers funding for projects related to geosciences, physical biosciences, photosynthetic systems, materials chemistry, biomolecular materials, and gas phase chemical physics. The deadlines differ greatly, so researchers are encouraged to seek information and reach out to program managers before the deadlines. The BAA is available here.

 

EPA Releases SBIR Phase 1 Solicitation on PFAS, Circular Economy, and Chemical Safety

 

On September 24, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its 2026 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase 1 Solicitation inviting proposals from small businesses developing innovative environmental technologies. Proposals must align with one of the specific topics identified in the solicitation, which span several priority areas: Clean and Safe Water (Monitoring technologies for water reuse; treatment of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in wastewater, sewage sludge, and biosolids; and technologies for the removal and destruction of PFAS in groundwater), Air Quality (Sensors for detecting PFAS in environmental media and technologies to improve carbon monoxide monitoring), Circular Economy and Sustainable Materials (Food waste prevention and recycling technologies; critical mineral recovery from lithium-ion batteries and safe battery reuse and recycling; and technologies that mitigate the impacts of critical mineral mining or recover critical minerals from acid mine drainage), and Safer Chemicals (Development of lower-concern rubber anti-degradants and improved lead testing kits). Phase I awards provide up to $100,000 over six months to demonstrate the technical feasibility of proposed technologies, with successful projects eligible to compete for Phase II funding to support further development and commercialization. The solicitation closes on November 8, 2026.

 

NOAA Releases New Coastal Flood Protection Research Program

 

The National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) recently released a new research program seeking to improve coastal flood protection through public-private partnerships, innovative insurance products, and improved sediment management. Solicited through NOAA’s National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) Competitive Research Program, one to six projects are expected to be funded for up to four years between $500,000 and $2 million per year, with no cost share required. Successful projects will support state-of-the-art information and products to advance the use of natural infrastructure for coastal flood protection. Applications should address one or more of the following priority areas:

 

  • Priority 1: Improve product delivery through the private sector
  • Priority 2: Innovating insurance mechanisms for natural coastal flood defense
  • Priority 3: Supporting sediment management practices

 

Eligibility is open to institutions of higher education, nonprofits, for-profits, state and local, and tribal governments, and federal applicants (including NOAA) which may receive funds from another agency. Multiorganizational partnerships are necessary to be competitive for the opportunity. Letters of intent are due to nccos.grant.awards@noaa.gov by November 9, 2026, with full applications due by February 12, 2027. An informational webinar on the solicitation will be offered on October 20, 2026, at 3:00 PM ET, with the meeting link to be posted here.

 

NOAA Publishes FY 2026 Earth System Science and Services Partnership

 

The National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Climate Program Office (CPO) published a $10,0000,000 cooperative agreement through its FY2026 Earth System Science and Services Partnership (ESSP). ESSP is intended to support research, observations and monitoring, modeling, assessments, decision-support tools and services, stakeholder engagement, workforce development, and related activities that advance NOAA’s understanding and prediction of changes across the atmosphere, oceans, coasts, land, and ice and their effects on ecosystems, communities, infrastructure, weather, and environmental hazards. Proposals should demonstrate unique capabilities and substantial institutional collaboration with multiple NOAA units, with particular emphasis on focused scientific objectives, sound methodologies, milestones, data management, program/project coordination, and effective outreach and application of results. The one-year initial period beginning December 1, 2026, although multi-year proposals of up to five years may be considered, subject to satisfactory performance and future funding availability. Eligible applicants are doctoral-granting academic institutions in NOAA-related sciences, consortia of such institutions, and nonprofit research institutions, but multi-institution applications will not be accepted; no cost share is required. The full application is due October 26, 2026.

 

NIEHS Forecasts Two New Environmental Health Programs

 

The National Advisory Environmental Health Sciences Council (NAEHSC) met on September 10 to receive updates on the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences’ (NIEHS) research portfolio, budget environment, and extramural activities. The meeting also featured discussions and approvals of two new extramural research concepts, both of which have already been posted as forecasted opportunities.

 

The forecasted Request for Application (RFA) on the Mechanistic Toxicology of METALS: Metal Exposure, Transport, Action, Localization, and Susceptibility aims to advance mechanistic research that elucidates our understanding of the human health impacts of metals and metal-containing compounds. Key research areas include studies that can “elucidate the absorption, distribution, transport, cellular trafficking, biological interactions, and mechanisms of action of metals.” The opportunity also encourages the use of experimental models, new approach methodologies, computational modeling, and human biospecimens to address the goals of the program. The estimated total funding levels for this opportunity is $15 million and the program anticipates funding roughly 20 awards. The estimated post date for this program is December 4, 2026 with an estimated due date of January 5, 2025.

 

Another forecasted notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) for Collaborative Centers in Children’s Environmental Health Research and Translation aims to establish a national network of centers focused on advancing Children’s Environmental Health (CEH). The NOFO indicated that NIEHS expects to fund up to 10 CEH Research Translation Centers (CEHRT) that will develop and test translational public health interventions and strategies and turn evidence-based findings into actionable community-wide practices that improve CEH. The CEHRTs will also focus on mentoring new investigators focused on CEH and serve as a national research resource for response efforts related to emerging childhood environmental exposures. Awards will range between $500,000 and $750,000, and make up a total program funding level of $10 million. The estimated post date for this program is November 3, 2026 with an estimated application due date of March 2, 2027.

 

DOD Releases FY 2027 Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative (MURI) Solicitation

 

The Department of Defense released its FY 2027 Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative (MURI) solicitation, which supports high-risk, high-impact basic research conducted by multidisciplinary university teams. The FY 2027 solicitation includes 16 research topics across the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR), Army Research Office (ARO), and Office of Naval Research (ONR), including several with connections to environmental science, atmospheric research, biogeochemistry, and materials. Of particular interest, ARO includes a topic focused on understanding the biogeochemical makeup of fire and smoke borne particulates, as well as research on biological assays for the development of superomniphobic materials and interfacial processes under extreme multiphase conditions. ONR topics include research on the effects of atmospheric and electromagnetic conditions on troposcatter, biofilm function, electrochemical materials, and bio-inspired self-healing materials and structures. DOD anticipates approximately $170 million over five years for the competition, with a max of $1.5 million per award. White papers are recommended and are due November 20, 2026, with full proposals due April 9, 2027. More information can be found here.

 

NSF Seeks New X-Labs Ideas Across Disciplines

 

On September 16, the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) announced a new X-Labs topic, Artificial Intelligence for Physical Systems, and previewed two additional topics expected later this fall: From Sequence to Function and Computation at the Limit of Physics. The topics are part of NSF’s $1.5 billion, 10-year X-Labs initiative, launched in May 2026 to tackle pressing scientific challenges through novel and innovative research partnerships. In addition, NSF has also issued a Request for Information (RFI) seeking input on topics for future X-Labs funding opportunities. All stakeholders with ideas for ambitious, high-impact research challenges are encouraged to submit potential X-Labs topics across disciplines, including topics related to environmental science, Earth science, biology, and biotechnology. Responses to the RFI seeking ideas for future X-Labs topics are due October 30, 2026. More information about the X-Labs, including information about webinars for the newly announced lab is available here.

 

DOE Office of Biological and Environmental Research Releases Request for Information on Biosystem Design

 

On September 24, the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science’s Office of Biological and Environmental Research (BER) released a request for information (RFI) seeking stakeholder input on accelerating the transition from observational biology to the predictive design of biosystems through biotechnology. The effort is linked to DOE’s Genesis Mission and seeks to capitalize on advances in artificial intelligence, laboratory automation, and the vast amount of biological data in BER’s research portfolio. Responses to the RFI are due on October 15, 2026.

 

The RFI solicits perspectives on advancing foundational science across biomolecules, cells, microbiomes, and plants to accelerate the production of bio-advantaged fuels, chemicals, and materials. BER plans to incorporate biosystems design into its research portfolio across three broad scientific areas: Molecules/Proteins to Function, Mastering the Cell, and Predictive Phenomics. Specifically, BER is seeking input on near-term scientific bottlenecks and missing capabilities needed to move from descriptive biology to biosystems design, research areas with the greatest potential for industrial breakthroughs and public benefit, and partnership models that could most effectively advance biosystems design and industrial translation. Responses to this RFI, as well as a Biotechnology workshop planned for October 2026, will inform future program development and investments, including a planned BioDesign center solicitation in Spring 2027 that reimagines DOE’s Bioenergy Research Centers (BRCs). The effort will also draw on recommendations from the DOE Office of Science Advisory Committee (SCAC) User Facility Subcommittee, which is developing a prioritized list of future user facility investments following a town hall on September 17.

 

NIH Requests Comment on Biosafety Policy for Research Involving Biohazards

 

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has released a Request for Information (RFI) (NOT-OD-26-112) seeking public comment on a draft biosafety policy that would replace the long-standing NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant or Synthetic Nucleic Acid Molecules. The proposed policy, developed after multiple community listening sessions and other engagements over the past year, would significantly expand NIH biosafety oversight beyond recombinant and synthetic nucleic acid research to include all biomedical research involving biohazards and would apply not only to NIH-funded research, but also to non-NIH-funded research conducted at institutions that receive NIH funding. Under the proposed framework, institutions would be required to maintain NIH-approved Biosafety Assurances, establish and maintain Institutional Biosafety Committees (IBCs), publicly post certain IBC records and incident reports, and in some cases, appoint a Biological Safety Officer (BSO) and maintain occupational health and safety programs (OHSPs). The policy would establish a tiered risk-based oversight framework covering research involving wild-type biological agents that cause disease in humans, genetically modified cells, viruses, or organisms, toxins, prions, and other biohazards (other than plants), while expanding institutional responsibilities for risk assessment, compliance, incident reporting, and public transparency.

 

NIH is requesting feedback on the proposed policy’s scope, oversight structure, risk assessment framework, compliance mechanisms, and implementation resources. Comments can be submitted here before October 19, 2026.

 

USGS National Geospatial Advisory Committee Seeks Nominations

The US Geological Survey (USGS) within the Department of the Interior (DOI) is soliciting nominations for National Geospatial Advisory Committee (NGAC), which provides advice and recommendations on federal geospatial programs, development of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure, and implementation of the Geospatial Data Act of 2018 to the Secretary of the Interior through the Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC). The NGAC includes up to 30 members representing all levels of government, geospatial information user industries, non-profits, academia, and professional associations. Members are appointed for three-year terms renewable once, and one third of the members terming off per year. The NGAC members meet three to four times per year and are not compensated, although travel and per diem costs are provided by USGS. The application package must be postmarked by November 16, 2026. More information is available here.

 

BLM Resource Advisory Councils Seeks Nominations

 

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) within the Department of the Interior (DOI) is soliciting nominations for 20 of its Resource Advisory Councils (RAC), which provides advice and recommendations on land use planning and management of the National System of Public Lands within the specified geographic areas of an RAC. Each RAC includes 10-15 members in three categories: holders of federal grazing permits within the RAC’s geographic area; representatives of nationally or regionally recognized environmental, recreational, or historical associations; and state, local, county, or tribal elected officials or employees. The application package must be postmarked by October 26, 2026. More information is available here.

 

NOAA Science Advisory Board Seeks Nominations

 

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is soliciting nominations for the NOAA Science Advisory Board (SAB). SAB advises the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere on ensuring that NOAA’s science and research programs are supporting sound decisions on natural resources, the environment, and public safety. Because of the breadth of subjects the board addresses, the board frequently consults with standing working groups (WGs) or experts and stakeholders from businesses, communities, and the industry who can provide expertise on specific topics. SAB serves for a term of three years with the possibility of reappointment. The board is composed of representatives with expertise in “Federal, State, and local government; social and behavioral sciences; artificial intelligence and machine learning; cloud strategy including high performance computing; commercial data access and management, including open access and accessibility; uncrewed systems; Whale research and conservation; aircraft systems and modernization; and economic analysis, including cost benefit evaluation of observing systems; and aircraft modernization.” NOAA also encourages applications from mid-career scientists and engineers. Applications must be submitted by February 15, 2027, and can be self-nominated. More information is available here.