The US National Science Foundation (NSF) has issued substantially fewer research awards so far in fiscal year 2026, with the Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS) receiving its lowest number of grants since the 1980s, according to field-by-field analyses.
Where the cuts fall
Analysts report that across the MPS directorate there has been a sharp fall in award counts compared with recent years. The reductions are uneven:
- Astronomical sciences: roughly 50% fewer awards compared with the 2021–2024 average.
- Materials research: more than 40% fewer awards.
- Chemistry and mathematical sciences: drops in excess of 30%.
- Physics: a smaller decline, of about 13%, in the number of awards.
The figures come from an analysis of historical award data published by Physics Today and reporting in Nature that places the agency’s total award count this year well below recent norms.
| Field | Approx. change vs 2021–2024 average |
|---|---|
| Astronomy | −50% |
| Materials | −>40% |
| Chemistry | −>30% |
| Mathematical sciences | −>30% |
| Physics | −13% |
Cause and immediate consequences
Nature reported that the White House is withholding about US$1 billion of NSF’s budget for the administration’s Grand Research Challenges initiative, a factor the outlet linked to the reduction in awards. The fiscal year ends on 30 September, leaving the agency only weeks to issue additional grants that might change the totals.
Marcel Agüeros, president of the American Astronomical Society, commented on the data, stressing that a smaller fall in the number of physics awards does not mean physics is unaffected. He warned that the total funding for physics has also declined, which reduces the average award size and forces researchers to re‑scale their plans.
“I suspect many of them are looking at their grants and thinking, ‘Well, how are we going to scale our ambitions to meet this new fiscal reality?’”
That quote was reported in the analysis published by Physics Today.
Implications for researchers and collaborations
A reduced award count affects more than just the US research community. South African researchers and institutions that partner with US teams — whether through co‑funded projects, data access or shared instrumentation — could face delays or diminished capacity if collaborators lose funding or must scale back ambitions.
Smaller award numbers also tend to increase competition for remaining funds, raising the peer‑review bar and potentially slowing the pace at which new teams establish themselves. For early‑career researchers, postdoctoral fellows and doctoral students, a drop in awards can mean fewer opportunities for grants that support salaries, travel and equipment.
What to watch next
- The remaining weeks of the fiscal year: the NSF has time to issue further awards before 30 September, which could partially reverse the observed declines.
- Any statements from NSF or the White House clarifying the Grand Research Challenges funding hold and its timeline.
- How the reduced award amounts translate into average grant size by field — an important measure for project scope and workforce support.
For South African scientists, the immediate practical consequence will be the need to monitor collaborative projects closely and to plan for possible funding uncertainty from American partners. For the global research community, the episode is a reminder that national budgetary choices and prioritisation of flagship initiatives can have rapid, wide‑ranging effects on the distribution of competitive research funding.
