First off, thanks to a top NIH official for telling me about the reports from the Eisenhower Science Advisory Committee, the precursor to what is now PCAST.
A related problem with interdisciplinary research is that, when it straddles two different programs, each program manager will inevitably punt responsibility for it to the other program manager. I have personally witnessed funding agency representatives deny this behavior when asked about it and then immediately walk into the next room and perform the exact behavior they just denied. The "multiple fiefdom" approach is really particularly detrimental to new ideas.
A related problem with interdisciplinary research is that, when it straddles two different programs, each program manager will inevitably punt responsibility for it to the other program manager. I have personally witnessed funding agency representatives deny this behavior when asked about it and then immediately walk into the next room and perform the exact behavior they just denied. The "multiple fiefdom" approach is really particularly detrimental to new ideas.