April 2026—Washington Update is a monthly publication by RSNA Government Relations, intended to deliver updates regarding current federal policy developments and to highlight RSNA’s initiatives to advance the Society’s policy objectives. All material featured in this newsletter reflects the most current information available at the time of release.
RSNA in Action
RSNA Government Relations Committee Meets on Amplifying Radiology’s Voice in Washington
Federal advocacy took center stage in Washington, D.C., as the RSNA Government Relations Committee convened on April 15-16, to accelerate the Society’s legislative and executive advocacy agenda and secure the future of the specialty. Committee members tackled critical issues at the forefront of radiology, including the integration of AI, addressing workforce and educational challenges and driving innovation in medical imaging. The event underscored RSNA’s commitment to shaping policy, fostering collaboration with key stakeholders and advancing initiatives that will define the future of radiology in the U.S.
The meeting featured a comprehensive agenda, including multiple sessions where policymakers and staff from Congress and federal agencies shared their perspectives and provided updates on issues related to RSNA’s policy priorities.
The meeting provided an opportunity to reflect on the progress achieved over the committee’s two‑and‑a‑half‑year history, deepen understanding of the current federal policy environment and refine strategic priorities. Insights from congressional staff, patient advocacy organizations, academic medicine leaders and research partners will continue to inform RSNA’s advocacy efforts to amplify radiology’s voice in Washington and advance policies that support innovation, research and patient care.
RSNA Government Relations Committee. Front row, from left: Shaunagh McDermott, MD; Jennifer Kemp, MD (RSNA Board Liaison); Alex Towbin, MD (Chair); Melissa Davis, MD, MBA. Back row, from left: Ellen Grant, MD, Vrushab Gowda, MD, JD; Ian Weissman, DO; Despina Kontos, PhD; Andrew Menard, JD. Click image for full post.
The Trump Administration released its fiscal year (FY) 2027 budget proposal, kicking off the annual appropriations process in Congress. Each year, Congress reviews and sets federal spending through the appropriations process, which begins when the President submits a budget request outlining funding priorities for the upcoming fiscal year. Congress then considers that request, adopts a budget resolution and writes 12 appropriations bills that allocate funding across federal agencies and programs. Once passed by both chambers and signed by the President, these bills fund the government for the upcoming fiscal year beginning Oct. 1.
President Trump’s FY 2027 budget would provide $41.4 billion for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which represents a $5.7 billion cut (12%) from the FY 2026 enacted level. The Administration’s budget proposes to eliminate the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, the Fogarty International Center and the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities. The proposal would also consolidate the National Institute on Drug Abuse and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism into a new National Institute of Substance Use and Addiction Research within the NIH. The remaining NIH institutes and centers would continue to operate in their current form.
As Congress begins debating FY 2027 appropriations, medical research and provider organizations are sounding the alarm: proposed cuts to biomedical research agencies threaten to stall scientific breakthroughs and undermine America’s research workforce. Although lawmakers successfully rejected President Trump’s deep funding cuts for the FY 2026 budget, advocacy groups must remain vigilant and continue to fight for robust NIH funding and support for research innovation. RSNA Government Relations is prepared to continue our work advocating for biomedical research funding as Congress turns its attention to passing the FY 2027 appropriations ahead of the Oct. 1 deadline.
The Trump Administration has dropped its legal challenge to cap indirect cost reimbursements at the NIH, ending a more than a year-long legal battle over the Administration's original proposal in February 2025 to cap overhead research costs at 15%. Universities, hospitals and states argued that the policy would have severely disrupted biomedical research by undermining support for facilities, staff and administrative infrastructure. While the ruling ends this specific effort, the ongoing conversation about covering the true costs of research and maintaining a strong biomedical research enterprise continues.
In December, President Trump signed a proclamation that pauses visa renewals for individuals from certain designated “high‑risk” countries. This action has had significant consequences for the medical workforce, as many physicians face expiring visas without timely renewal, forcing them to stop treating patients. Hospitals and health systems across the country have warned that these delays are disrupting patient care and compounding existing workforce shortages. Physician advocacy organizations, including the American Medical Association, have urged the Administration to provide exemptions for medical professionals to ensure continuity of care and protect patient access to services.
As Congress and the Trump Administration consider a U.S. strategy for AI regulation, a bipartisan group of lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives has introduced legislation aimed at increasing transparency in how AI developers train their models. The bill responds to growing concerns about the trustworthiness of AI systems and the use of Americans’ data.
