September 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.
On Aug. 21, RSNA Government Relations staff participated in the Friends of the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (FoNIBIB) leadership meeting at the NIH campus and attended the accompanying expo, which showcased federally supported medical imaging research for a group of congressional staff.
The meeting brought together leaders from NIBIB and member organizations of FoNIBIB to discuss the institute's priorities, funding environment, workforce development efforts and opportunities to advance biomedical innovation. During the discussion, RSNA raised questions about how NIBIB is positioning itself within emerging federal initiatives focused on AI and biotechnology, as well as opportunities for collaboration within the imaging research community.
The congressional expo highlighted cutting-edge research supported by NIBIB, including advances in biomedical imaging and AI-enabled technologies. RSNA’s participation reflects its ongoing commitment to supporting sustained federal investment in imaging research and engaging with policymakers on issues that impact medical innovation and patient care.
The RSNA Government Relations Committee is organizing four sessions at RSNA 2026 that explore the growing influence of federal policy on radiology practice, research and innovation. Together, these sessions will provide attendees with practical insights into advocacy, AI regulation, workforce and research policy, and the evolving role of government in shaping the field of radiology.
The first session, Advocacy in Action: Advancing Radiology Through RSNA Government Relations (Monday, Nov. 30 at 4:30 p.m.), will introduce attendees to RSNA’s government relations strategy, priorities and advocacy efforts. Speakers will discuss recent accomplishments, emerging policy opportunities related to AI, workforce sustainability and imaging research, and ways RSNA members can engage in advocacy to help advance the interests of radiologists and patients.
A second session, What’s New in 2026: Discussing FDA’s Approach to Regulating AI-Enabled Devices in Radiology—Challenges, Innovations, and Future Directions (Tuesday, Dec. 1 at 9:30 a.m.), will feature leaders from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health. Building on a highly attended session from the 2025 annual meeting, the program will provide an update on FDA’s regulatory approach to AI-enabled medical devices and explore how the agency is balancing innovation, patient safety and physician responsibilities in a rapidly evolving healthcare AI environment.
The committee will also present Federal Policy in Practice: How Washington Is Shaping Radiology (Wednesday, Dec. 2 at 3:00 p.m.), a session examining how decisions made by federal agencies such as FDA, HHS and CMS are influencing reimbursement, care delivery, technology adoption and workforce planning. Panelists will discuss the practical implications of emerging policies and offer strategies for radiology leaders seeking to navigate a changing landscape.
The final government relations-related session, Contested Ground: Debating the Future of Artificial Intelligence in Radiology (Thursday, Dec. 3 at 1:30 p.m.), will use a structured debate format to examine some of the most pressing questions surrounding AI in medical imaging. Experts will discuss topics such as the readiness of agentic AI for clinical deployment, the appropriate balance between automation and human oversight, and the role of federal and state governments in developing regulatory and liability frameworks for increasingly autonomous systems.
Congress has approved, and President Trump has signed into law, a short-term continuing resolution (CR) that funds the federal government through Dec. 11, providing additional time for lawmakers to complete work on fiscal year (FY) 2027 appropriations legislation.
This CR is particularly significant for the biomedical research community because it includes a provision prohibiting the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) from finalizing or implementing proposed changes to the Uniform Guidance, the government-wide framework that governs federal grants and cooperative agreements, until at least Dec. 11.
As reported in the June edition of Washington Update, RSNA submitted comments in response to OMB's proposed rule revising federal grantmaking policies. RSNA expressed concern that the proposal could 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 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.
The final resolution of FY 2027 spending and the fate of OMB’s proposed rule to reshape the federal grantmaking apparatus will be significantly influenced by the outcomes of the Nov. 3 midterm elections, which will determine which political party controls the House and Senate in the next Congress beginning in January 2027. Depending on the balance of power that emerges, lawmakers may pursue different approaches to completing FY 2027 appropriations, extending government funding, or addressing the proposed Uniform Guidance changes through future legislation.
RSNA Government Relations staff will continue to monitor developments in the appropriations process, federal grants policy and the post-election legislative landscape, and will advocate for a strong, stable and predictable environment for medical imaging research, scientific innovation and high-quality patient care.
Recent immigration policy developments may have implications for the radiology workforce and the broader physician pipeline, particularly as health systems continue to face workforce shortages.
In July, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) finalized changes to the longstanding "Duration of Status" policy for F-1 and J-1 visa holders, replacing it with a fixed period of admission that generally may not exceed four years before an extension of stay is required. Medical education organizations have warned that the change does not align well with the length of many residency and fellowship training programs and could create additional administrative burdens and uncertainty for international medical graduates (IMGs), who play an important role in the U.S. physician workforce.
At the same time, legal challenges involving H-1B visa policies and application processing continue to move through the courts. Several lawsuits allege that delays and restrictions in visa adjudications could disrupt physician training and staffing, potentially affecting patient access to care in communities that rely on IMGs. See the “In the News” section below for more information on a late-breaking legal development related to visa length for trainees in biomedical research and medicine. RSNA Government Relations staff will continue to monitor immigration policies that may affect the training, recruitment and retention of radiologists and physician-scientists.
The Trump Administration is accelerating efforts to make AI an integral part of medical care in the U.S., throwing resources and federal government support into projects that deploy AI agents to diagnose and prescribe treatments to patients. The effort at the Department of Health and Human Services has raised concerns among some officials that change is moving too quickly, especially in light of inadequate evidence of the technology’s safety and effectiveness.
A federal judge on September 14 issued a preliminary injunction blocking the Trump Administration from upending a long-standing policy that allows foreign students and scholars to stay in the U.S. for the duration of their training, a decision that suggests that plaintiffs opposed to the policy change are likely to ultimately succeed.
The technology industry’s increasingly urgent warnings about the potential harm of artificial intelligence are running up against political intransigence in Washington, offering a fresh test of the federal government’s willingness and ability to confront what may become a defining issue of the era.
On Wednesday, September 16, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee held a confirmation hearing for several senior health officials, including Dr. Nicole Saphier, nominee for U.S. Surgeon General. Dr. Saphier is a radiologist and board-certified breast specialist, bringing a medical imaging perspective to the high-profile nomination.
