Urging NSF to preserve merit review, psychological science, and publishing support in draft financial assistance guidance

In comments submitted to the National Science Foundation (NSF), APA Services outlined key priorities to protect scientific integrity, strengthen the research workforce, and minimize administrative burdens on scientists.

Advocates across the scientific community called for a seamless transition to the new framework and cautioned against implementing proposed federal revisions before they are fully finalized, noting that premature changes could create regulatory confusion for institutions. To maintain clarity, APA Services urged NSF to keep accessible policy archives and clear versioning so researchers can easily reference applicable requirements over time.

While supporting the agency’s efforts to modernize its policies, APA Services strongly opposed efforts to eliminate the Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences (SBE) directorate. Behavioral research provides essential foundations for emerging fields like artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and human-technology interaction. Alongside structural support for SBE, it is critical that NSF’s independent merit review process is protected from political interference, ensuring expert peer review remains the foundation of funding decisions.

The comments also highlighted the need for practical administrative improvements and continued funding for research dissemination—including open-access fees, publishing charges, and data management costs. Restricting these resources would disproportionately harm early-career researchers and under-resourced institutions.

Maintaining these protections ensures that psychological science continues to drive national innovation and evidence-based decision-making. APA Services will remain engaged with coalition partners to advocate for psychological science and ensure support for NSF.

For more information, email Krysta Jones.