June 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 Responds to OMB Proposed Rule on Federal Grantmaking Policy

RSNA submitted comments in response to a proposed rule from the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) that would revise the guidance for federal financial assistance, including numerous policies related to the management of federally funded grants. The proposed rule has major implications for the nation’s scientific research enterprise, including its potential to centralize grantmaking authority within OMB, increase political oversight of funding decisions and align awards more closely with Administration priorities rather than scientific merit or agency missions. RSNA’s comments emphasized that a strong medical research enterprise depends on transparent processes, scientific expertise and collaboration to drive innovation and support high-quality patient care. Read RSNA’s comments.

Strengthening Advocacy Priorities Through Coalition Engagement

RSNA has maintained a strong presence in coalition activity in Washington this month, participating in a recent meeting of the Friends of the National Institute of Biomedical imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) Coalition and in the Association of American Medical Colleges Government Relations working group. These partnerships are an important part of RSNA’s advocacy strategy, allowing us to coordinate with peer organizations, strengthen shared messages and expand our influence on high-priority policy issues. Through these forums, RSNA is advancing advocacy on sustained support for NIBIB and radiology research, as well as broader workforce policies that affect the future of medical imaging and patient care.

Driving Federal Support for High-Impact Innovation and ARPA-H Funding

In late May, RSNA staff attended the congressional briefing Transforming the Future of Human Health, featuring the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) Director Alicia Jackson, PhD. Speakers highlighted the agency’s role in advancing high-risk, high-impact research, including projects aimed at improving chronic disease outcomes and enhancing cancer monitoring. The briefing reinforced the potential for ARPA-H-supported innovation to accelerate new approaches in diagnostics, imaging and patient care. Because ARPA-H supports cutting-edge medical research in areas such as imaging-guided interventions, AI-enabled diagnostics and clinical decision support tools, RSNA has made advocacy for the agency a priority, including joining a recent coalition letter to congressional appropriators in support of ARPA-H funding in FY 2027. View the letter.

Federal Policy Update

AI Landscape: Congress and the White House 

June brought significant developments in federal AI policy, with new actions from both the White House and Congress that could shape how AI is developed, evaluated and deployed across sectors, including healthcare.

On June 2, President Trump signed the executive order Promoting Advanced Artificial Intelligence Innovation and Security, representing one of the first instances in which the Trump Administration has called for direct federal oversight of AI companies. Under the voluntary framework, companies developing qualified frontier models would be asked to submit those systems to the federal government and trusted partners for review 30 days before public release. The order reflects growing bipartisan interest in balancing innovation with safeguards around security, reliability and public trust.

Soon after, Reps. Jay Obernolte (R-CA) and Lori Trahan (D-MA) released their draft bill, the Great American Artificial Intelligence Act of 2026. Among numerous other provisions, the nearly 300-page proposal would establish the Center for AI Safety and Innovation within the National Institute of Standards and Technology as the primary federal body for AI oversight and authorize $100 million annually for the Center from 2027 through 2029.

The draft legislation also emphasizes interagency coordination, workforce development and the creation of national AI standards, all of which could have significant implications for how AI tools are evaluated and adopted in healthcare settings.

The draft is the first major congressional attempt to establish a comprehensive federal AI framework since the December 2024 Bipartisan House Task Force Report on Artificial Intelligence. However, the Obernolte-Trahan bill has already drawn criticism, particularly over its proposed three-year preemption of state AI laws. That debate highlights the growing tension between federal coordination and state-led regulation at a time when healthcare organizations, developers and policymakers are seeking clearer standards for the safe and effective use of AI.

Elections, Appropriations and Impact: GOP Primary Losses Reshape Senate Leadership Ahead of Midterms

Ahead of the November 2026 midterm elections, Senators Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and John Cornyn (R-TX), have lost their primary elections, creating turnover in GOP leadership on health policy issues. Cassidy, who chairs the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, was defeated in Louisiana’s primary, while Cornyn, a longtime Senate leader and important bipartisan dealmaker, lost his runoff in Texas. These elections determine each party’s nominees for the November general election, which ultimately decides which party fills these seats in the 120th Congress beginning in January 2027.

The departures of Senators Cassidy and Cornyn are expected to shift the Republican delegation in Congress further rightward as the 2026 midterm elections intensify intra-party challenges. The losses will also create turnover in Senate committee leadership on key health policy issues and remove a seasoned negotiator from Senate leadership. 

Cassidy’s departure, alongside Cornyn’s, could weaken bipartisan support for NIH and ARPA-H funding, raising new questions about the future of federal investment in biomedical research.

In The News

Aunt Minnie: SIIM: ONC official urges smarter AI, better image sharing

A federal health IT official at the SIIM annual meeting called for more effective AI integration and improved medical image sharing to support a more connected, patient-centered healthcare system. During a fireside chat moderated by Alex Towbin, MD, incoming SIIM board chair and chair of the RSNA Government Relations Committee, speakers highlighted persistent interoperability challenges, including infrastructure gaps and continued reliance on physical media for image exchange. The discussion underscored the need for stronger data access, interoperability and policy alignment to ensure AI tools deliver meaningful clinical value while reducing provider burden.

Forbes: When ‘I Acknowledge’ Isn’t the Same as Consent in Healthcare AI

In his latest Forbes opinion piece, Demetri Giannikopoulos highlights a striking contradiction in today’s clinical setting: while patients are often prohibited from recording or documenting their visit, they may be required to acknowledge the use of AI tools as part of their care. As a healthcare AI leader at Rad AI and an engaged voice within the radiology community, Giannikopoulos’s perspective reinforces a central question for the field: how to responsibly scale AI in ways that strengthen, rather than erode, the patient-provider relationship.

Politico: Court blocks Trump’s $100K visa fee

On June 8, a U.S. District Court judge blocked the Trump Administration’s effort to impose a $100,000 fee on H-1B visa applications, ruling that the surcharge constituted an unauthorized tax exceeding executive authority. The decision follows months of advocacy to repeal the fee, driven by concerns over its significant adverse impacts across the economy, particularly in healthcare, where it was expected to further strain workforce shortages and pose serious risks to rural hospital systems.

Contact RSNA Government Relations with questions or feedback.

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