Government Relations
Discover how RSNA amplifies radiology’s role in advancing health care delivery and medical imaging innovation through its government outreach efforts, partnerships and advocacy.
On this page
Overview
RSNA’s government relations efforts seek to elevate and amplify radiology’s voice by:
- Championing radiology’s leadership in advancing biomedical innovation to federal policymakers
- Impacting the development of policy, regulations and legislation around cutting-edge and established imaging technologies
- Driving research and development to fuel scientific breakthroughs and elevate patient care
Washington Update
Washington Update is a monthly newsletter about current federal policy developments and RSNA’s initiatives to advance radiology on Capitol Hill.
Current issue
Washington Update - October 2025
Policy priorities
RSNA’s public policy initiatives focus on elevating the expertise of radiologists to inform pressing challenges in medical research and patient care.
Key issues include:
- AI in medical imaging
- RSNA champions smart policies that drive AI adoption in medical imaging and health care, balancing meaningful innovation with smart oversight that ensures patient safety.
- Workforce and education
- RSNA supports policies that strengthen the radiology workforce, ensuring patient access to quality imaging care.
- Federal investment in biomedical and health research
- RSNA supports strong federal funding for foundational and translational research to maintain U.S. leadership in biomedical R&D.
RSNA Committee on Government Relations
Committee charge
The RSNA Committee on Government Relations will create and execute a government outreach strategy aligned with RSNA’s mission of promoting excellence in patient care and health care delivery through education, research and technological innovation. Learn more about the committee’s charge and members.
Three subcommittees have been established to help carry out the work of RSNA’s government relations:
- Workforce & Education subcommittee
- Research subcommittee
- Technology & Practice subcommittee
Recent activities
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RSNA Urges Congress to Finalize 2026 Funding for NIH
RSNA joined 454 organizations asking Congress to provide $47.2 billion for the NIH in its FY 2026 appropriations. Read the full letter.
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RSNA Supports New FAIR Model for Essential Research Costs
RSNA joined in a coalition with 63 other organizations in supporting the FAIR research model. Read the full letter.
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RSNA Congratulates Assistant Secretary Keane on Landmark Appointment
Radiologist and technology developer Thomas Keane, MD, MBA, was recently appointed the second Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy (ASTP) and ninth National Coordinator for Health Information Technology at the Department Health and Human Services. RSNA congratulated Dr. Keane on his appointment as the first radiologist to hold this position. In our letter, we emphasized RSNA’s leadership in advancing AI and medical imaging and the Society’s commitment to improving interoperability in health care. We look forward to collaborating with Dr. Keane and the ASTP team. Read the full letter.
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NIH Seeks Comments on the Agency’s AI Strategic Plan; RSNA Responds
RSNA provided comments at the request of the NIH on its development of an AI strategic plan that will be used by the agency to guide AI-related initiatives, policy and funding opportunities. Read the full letter.
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RSNA Jointly Urges Congress to Preserve and Protect NIH Funding in FY 2025 and FY 2026
This coalition letter to congressional leadership expresses the NIH community’s strong concerns regarding actions being taken by HHS and the Trump Administration to prevent or delay FY 2025 appropriated funds from being disbursed; states opposition to the major structural reorganization in process at NIH that is happening without congressional oversight and urges Congress to take action to protect U.S. leadership in medical research. Read the full letter.
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RSNA Calls on Congress to Safeguard NIH Funding for FY 2026
This coalition letter to the Congressional Appropriations Committees urges Congress to reject the proposed 38% cut to the NIH included in President Trump’s FY 2026 budget request and to act to protect indirect cost policies for NIH grants. Read the full letter.
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RSNA Joins Coalition to Urge Congress to provide $1.7B ARPA-H Funding for FY 2026
This coalition letter to the Congressional Appropriations Committees urges Congress to provide at least $1.7 billion in funding for ARPA-H in FY 2026. Read the full letter.
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RSNA Joins Coalition Backing $51.3B NIH Funding for FY 2026
The coalition letter to the Congressional Appropriations Committees endorses the community’s FY 2026 funding recommendation for the NIH–$51.3 billion. Read the full letter.
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Artificial Intelligence-Enabled Device Software Functions: Lifecycle Management and Marketing Submission Recommendations
RSNA’s letter urged FDA to undertake regulatory actions that would promote transparency and explainability; require user interfaces to provide clinically meaningful insights; promote standardization; encourage tool developers to demonstrate radiology workflow interoperability; and establish a dual-reporting process as part of post deployment tool monitoring. Read the full letter.
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RSNA responds to a Request for Information from the Trump Administration seeking feedback on its development of an AI Action Plan
RSNA’s comments identified five key considerations in the development of an AI Action Plan including, among others, the need to foster trust through robust validation and transparency; encourage innovation through strategic R&D; and reduce barriers to AI adoption through effective and efficient regulatory pathways. Read the full letter.
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RSNA responds to the CDC's proposal to expand the B reader program
The B Reader program certifies physicians in the ability to classify chest radiographs for pneumoconiosis and is used by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in some of its health surveillance programs. RSNA cautioned the CDC against expanding the B Reader program to allow nurse practitioners and physician assistants to become certified B Readers and recommended that when non-physician providers are involved in medical imaging and radiologic care, they contribute as part of a radiologist-led team and do not focus on independent image interpretation. Read the full letter.
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RSNA responds to a Request for Information from the Trump Administration seeking feedback on its development of an AI Action Plan
RSNA’s response introduced RSNA and highlighted the leading role that radiology plays in development and implementation of AI in medicine and healthcare. The Society’s letter outlines key considerations for the development of the Trump Administration’s AI Action Plan, including: the need to foster trust in AI adoption through robust validation and transparency; the need to encourage innovation through strategic investments in R&D; and the need to promote multi-sector collaboration to ensure smart regulatory approaches that do not stymie AI development and deployment. Read the full letter.
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RSNA jointly urges Congress to provide robust funding for the NIH in 2025
RSNA joined over 600 biomedical and health research stakeholder organizations in urging congressional leadership to provide robust funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and to preserve protections against harmful policy changes to facilities and administrative (F&A) costs on NIH grants. View the coalition letter.
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RSNA submits comments to the FDA regarding the new Digital Health Advisory Committee (DHAC)
Following the first meeting of the DHAC in November 2024, RSNA’s letter made several recommendations regarding the ways in which modifications to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) regulatory framework can promote enhanced transparency in AI tool development, deployment and continuous monitoring. In addition, RSNA strongly encouraged the FDA to ensure that the DHAC continues to draw on the expertise of radiology and radiologists in its work. Read the full letter.