Research Compliance Updates for Public Funding

On July 10, 2025, the National Science Foundation (NSF) issued Important Notice No. 149: Updates to NSF Research Security Policies. These updates implement new requirements mandated by the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 and National Security Presidential Memorandum-33 (NSPM-33), aimed at strengthening research security and transparency in federally funded research. While the notice specifically applies to NSF, the outlined policies reflect broader federal priorities that impact programs supported by public funding across multiple agencies. The notice details six major policy changes that affect proposal submissions and award management for NSF-funded researchers and institutions.

While this notice is specific to NSF, several components — especially the Research Security Training requirement — are part of a larger federal initiative. Agencies such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Department of Energy (DOE), Department of Defense (DOD), and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) are implementing similar research security measures. Programs supported by public funding from these agencies are expected to adopt comparable practices to promote transparency, safeguard research integrity, and maintain compliance with evolving federal standards.