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National Science Foundation

Trusted Research Using Safeguards and Transparency (TRUST)

Read the NSF Policy Memo June 2024

The framework is designed to avoid curtailing beneficial research activities due to institutions or individuals in the community being overly cautious, protect the agency's core values of fairness and due process and maintain open lines of communication with the research community.

TRUST framework includes three branches. 

  • First branch focuses on assessing active personnel appointments and positions
  • Second branch focuses on identifying instances of noncompliance with disclosure and other requirements.
  • Third branch is the inclusion of a review for potential foreseeable national security considerations

TRUST Implementation- from the Policy Memo referenced above

The rollout of TRUST will take place in three phases, enabling Office of the Chief of Research Security Strategy and Policy (OCRSSP) to build on lessons learned as we go, including those related to institutional burden, fairness, time-to-award delays, etc. The phases will proceed as follows:

  • Beginning in fiscal year (FY) 2025, the first phase is a pilot program in which the TRUST framework will be applied to quantum-related proposals after they undergo merit review. The purpose of the phase 1 pilot is to start collecting data, assess key metrics of the program, understand the impact on NSF directorates, and build and evaluate NSF’s capacity to review the potential foreseeable national security application of technology.
  • The second stage of the rollout will be focused on implementing lessons learned from the quantum pilot. OCRSSP will also explore the need for making policy updates, including to the Proposal Awards Policy and Procedures Guide (PAPPG). During this stage, the pilot will be expanded to include other CHIPS and Science Act key technology areas.
  • The third and final stage of the pilot will focus on scaling up and streamlining the review process as well as expanding the scope of projects to include all CHIPS and Science Act key technology areas.