Foster Votes to Protect American Science from Trump Administration Cuts

Washington, DC — Today, U.S. Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) issued the following statement after he voted in favor of the FY 2026 appropriations minibus, which passed the House:

“This funding package reflects the hard work of Democrats to push back against the Trump Administration’s repeated attacks on American science. While the Administration proposed devastating cuts that would have undermined our national labs, hollowed out basic research, and weakened our global competitiveness, this agreement protects core investments in agencies like the Department of Energy’s Office of Science, the National Science Foundation, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology. These programs support the fundamental research that drives innovation, strengthens our economy, and keeps the United States secure. 

“As Congress’s only PhD physicist, I will continue fighting to ensure our scientists have the support they need to keep America at the forefront of discovery.”

FY 2026 Minibus Science Funding Highlights

• Department of Energy – Office of Science:
  The bill provides $8.4 billion for the DOE Office of Science, rejecting the deep cuts proposed by the Trump Administration and making it the only major DOE research office to receive an increase relative to prior enacted levels. The Office of Science supports basic research at national laboratories across the country, including Argonne National Laboratory and Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory in Illinois’ 11th Congressional District.
• National Science Foundation (NSF):
  The minibus includes $8.76 billion for NSF — far above the Trump Administration’s proposed $3.9 billion request. The bill also includes new guardrails to prevent disproportionate cuts to individual NSF directorates, helping protect merit-reviewed, fundamental research from political interference.
• National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST):
  Funding for the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is preserved, including full support for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership, which helps small and mid-sized manufacturers modernize operations, strengthen supply chains, and create jobs.