diff --git a/nmdc_automation/config/workflows/workflows.yaml b/nmdc_automation/config/workflows/workflows.yaml
index a64f0c1d..321aa2d0 100644
--- a/nmdc_automation/config/workflows/workflows.yaml
+++ b/nmdc_automation/config/workflows/workflows.yaml
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ Workflows:
     Inputs:
       input_files: do:Filtered Sequencing Reads
       proj: "{workflow_execution_id}"
-      shortRead: false
+      shortRead: true
     Workflow Execution:
       name: "Metagenome Assembly for {id}"
       type: nmdc:MetagenomeAssembly
diff --git a/tests/test_sched.py b/tests/test_sched.py
index 55ba6304..0bf3ae90 100644
--- a/tests/test_sched.py
+++ b/tests/test_sched.py
@@ -286,7 +286,7 @@ def test_scheduler_create_job_rec_has_input_files_as_array(test_db, mock_api, wo
     assembly = assemblies[0]
 
     assert isinstance(assembly["config"]["inputs"]["shortRead"], bool)
-    assert assembly["config"]["inputs"]["shortRead"] == False
+    assert assembly["config"]["inputs"]["shortRead"] == True
     assert isinstance(assembly["config"]["inputs"]["input_files"], list)