Trump seeks to limit funding that doesn't 'advance' presidential policies

Key Points:

• The White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has proposed a new rule that would shift control of federal research, education, and infrastructure grants to political appointees, requiring projects to align with administration priorities and potentially sidelining scientific merit in funding decisions.
• Critics, including scientific societies and researchers, warn the rule could politicize grant awards, restrict international collaborations, limit research topics, and allow grants to be suspended or canceled arbitrarily, threatening scientific innovation and public services.
• The rule would convert existing grant policies from guidance into binding regulations, mandating political review of merit-based agency decisions, which many fear will undermine the independence and quality of federally funded research.
• Concerns have been raised about vague language restricting research on disparate impacts, potentially hindering studies on health disparities and vulnerable populations, as well as the impact on local governments dependent on federal grants for essential services.
• The proposal has sparked widespread opposition, with nearly 100,000 public comments submitted by July 13, and bipartisan calls from lawmakers urging OMB to rescind the rule due to risks to scientific progress, U.S. competitiveness, and community infrastructure.