Science · 2026-10-20 · Afternoon briefing
US science funding delays leave researchers in the dark
For the second consecutive year, a key US federal grant program for scientific equipment has stalled, leaving researchers unable to apply for funding. The National Science Foundation’s Major Research Instrumentation program, which offers grants of up to $4 million, failed to open its application process on the planned date of October 15th.
The delay follows the complete suspension of applications in 2025 for the 2026 fiscal year, which the agency attributed to a large backlog of proposals. Scientists report that the uncertainty forces them to put projects on hold or spend money on temporary repairs for aging equipment, such as a broken $700,000 instrument, when a replacement would be more efficient.
An NSF spokesperson stated the agency is “currently working to update this funding opportunity” but gave no timeline for when submissions might open. For researchers, the ambiguity is costly; as one scientist noted, a delay of a few months can be the difference between a high-impact publication and being scooped.
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- Scientists left in the dark by National Science Foundation grant application delays
- NASA Funding Delays Raise Alarms for Researchers
- US scientists moving abroad amid delayed federal grants and funding uncertainty
- H.I.V. Research Networks Face Uncertain Future Amid Funding Delays
- These 6 charts show how NIH research funding has been reshaped under Trump
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