The New York Times reported in 2026 that the National Science Foundation withheld and carried over $1.4 billion intended for research. That figure and account are reported claims, not an independently verified accounting or a legal finding. The NSF and the White House reportedly said the money remained available to spend under a two-year appropriation. The available information does not establish which accounts were involved, how the funds were ultimately used, or whether the agency acted unlawfully.
What is known about the reported $1.4 billion?
An accessible search result attributes the $1.4 billion figure to New York Times reporting based on internal data. The account says the NSF withheld funds Congress intended for research and carried them over as funding deadlines approached. The original Times article and its underlying data were not available for independent inspection, so the figure and description cannot be checked against an agency ledger or account-level reconciliation here.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
The distinction matters: the report describes a hold and carryover, but the available evidence does not establish that the money was permanently removed from research, transferred to another purpose, or lost. Nor does it identify the affected fiscal years or specific NSF accounts and programs.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesCould the NSF still spend the money?
According to the accessible account of the reporting, the NSF and the White House said the funds remained available for spending in the next fiscal year because the agency receives two-year appropriations. That is their reported position, not an independent legal determination. The material available does not include a court ruling, an inspector general conclusion, or a congressional account-level reconciliation resolving whether the carryover was permissible in this case.
#1 Best Overall
- 【Ideal for Laboratory】 This lab notebook is designed for professionals and students alike, Perfect for recording experiment data, research notes, and scientific observations, helping you stay organized throughout your experiments.
- 【High-Quality Paper】The laboratory notebook With 105 pages of thick, high-quality paper, this notebook prevents ink bleed-through, ensuring your notes stay neat and legible.
- 【Durable and Practical】Bound with a strong, flexible cover that can withstand daily use in any lab environment, ensuring long-lasting durability.
- 【Versatile Layout】 Features a blank grid format, providing you with plenty of space for detailed observations, sketches, and calculations.
- 【Standard size】 8.5 x 11 Inch, 5 x 5 grid ruled (5 squares per inch) , Easy to carry in backpacks or lab bags, this chemistry laboratory notebook is an ideal choice for scientists, researchers, and students.
To assess the dispute, a reader would need to know the specific appropriation and fiscal-year window, what Congress authorized for that account, when the funds were available, and what the NSF obligated or paid. Those details are not established in the available account of the $1.4 billion report.
Why the NSF’s $3.9 billion budget figure is different
The NSF’s FY 2026 budget page describes $3.9 billion as the President’s discretionary budget request, released May 2, 2025. A request is a proposal; it is not itself an enacted congressional appropriation, an agency obligation, or a payment. It therefore does not confirm or disprove the separately reported $1.4 billion carryover.
The NSF says its Research and Related Activities appropriation supports early-stage research and workforce development across basic science and engineering, as well as support for the private sector. The available description does not identify which accounts or programs, if any, were affected by the reported hold.
Recommended Free Tools
How to read the figures without conflating them
| Figure | What it describes | What it does not establish |
|---|---|---|
| $1.4 billion | The amount the New York Times reportedly said the NSF withheld and carried over in 2026, according to the accessible search result. | It is not independently verified here; the affected years, accounts, obligations, outlays, and final disposition are not established. |
| $3.9 billion | The President’s discretionary budget request for the NSF for FY 2026, released May 2, 2025. | It is not an enacted appropriation or a measure of actual NSF spending, and it is not the reported hold. |
| $39.1 billion | Federal obligations to universities and colleges for science and engineering activities in FY 2020, reported by NCSES in 2022. | It is a government-wide historical figure, not an NSF total or a measure of the reported 2026 carryover. |
| $1.4 billion | Stimulus funding that NCSES said contributed to the year-over-year increase in federal science and engineering obligations to universities and colleges in FY 2020. | It is an unrelated historical statistic, despite matching the amount in the NSF report. |
What evidence would settle the question?
The headline’s use of “diverted” should be treated as a claim to examine, not a settled legal conclusion. A reliable assessment would require enough detail to compare the congressional authority with the agency’s account of what happened.
- Appropriation and account: Identify the enacted funding authority, the NSF account or program, and any relevant restrictions or deadlines.
- Fiscal-year window: Establish when the money was available and whether the reported carryover crossed a deadline that applied to those funds.
- Obligations and outlays: Distinguish funds committed by the agency from cash actually paid, and trace what remained available afterward.
- Disposition: Determine whether the funds were later obligated or spent, and for what purpose.
- Independent review: Compare the agency’s explanation with account-level congressional records or a relevant inspector general or court determination.
The National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics’ Federal S&E Support Survey is an annual, congressionally mandated source of federal science and engineering funding data for individual academic and nonprofit institutions. That broad survey is useful for understanding federal research support, but the available material does not show that it resolves this particular NSF carryover.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Used Book in Good Condition
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
