Generative AI-Disclosure: Sooo... I accidentally wrote 25K words on this topic; I used an LLM to help prune it back to 15K words and make the formatting as easy as possible to navigate.
Given the extensive and excellent coverage listed in the Suggested Reading (footnote 1), why should you read what I have to say about this? Well... as an AAAS STP fellow in Congress, I helped draft this bill about grants and its committee report I helped organize this hearing about grants; all of that involved intensely studying and understanding the code of federal regulations pertaining to grants and previous attempts at doing the things OMB says it wants to do (and lots more). I became part of the unofficial "CBASS Appreciation Society" because Clint Bass at the Congressional Research Service has been covering this beat for a long time. After my year working for Senator Peters' HSGAC staff, I spent a year as an AAAS STP fellow in the grantmaking agency for math, NSF!
So, my one-pager about the 108 page proposal is at the end of this entry. There's much to lament, but the big changes will be to 2 CFR 200, outlined in Section VI.
With apologies to the amazing program officers keeping the ship afloat over at NSF TIP, whom I know are doing a lot with a little to keep the ship on course.
I've never submitted a proposal to DARPA, but if I had to imagine a solicitation for one, it might look a lot like this recent e-blast from NSF's TIP Directorate, but maybe without the sycophancy?
This substantial long-term investment underscores NSF's commitment to new models of research outside of traditional institutions, reflecting the truly interdisciplinary nature of today's modern science ecosystem.
Beginning Tuesday, May 12, 2026, the Census Bureau is implementing a policy that requires an API key be used with all queries that are made to the Census Data API. The API key is a security measure that protects both the Census Bureau and you, our data users. Request a Key Here
Foreign policy unbecoming of a FIFA Peace Prize recipient! image credit: Courtney Gibbons 2026
Why U.S. Foreign Policy Could Cost Us the World’s Greatest Mathematical Gathering
In July 2026, Philadelphia is scheduled to host the International Congress of Mathematicians (ICM), one of the most prestigious scientific meetings on the planet. Held once every four years, the ICM brings together thousands of leading researchers from more than 100 countries. It is where international collaborations are born and ideas that power breakthroughs in technology, climate science, cryptography, and artificial intelligence are forged.
This is a newsletter that puts the “fun” in “federal funding updates” and other things going on in the federal government of interest to mathematicians.
What to expected (besides the unexpected)
Once in awhile, I’ll write (or co-write!) a long #DerivedCategories email about something. More often, I’ll test out my #⌈FRiday⌉ semi-automated Friday round up (get it?) of the Federal Register. That’s where the U.S. government agencies post legally required notices, like when a new system of records is being created, or a new visa rule is being proposed.
