Action Item: Speak Up to Limit Political Oversight of Federal Grants

Calling all scientist-citizens: there is a need for you to make your voice heard in responding to a proposal that would give politically appointed officials authority over federal grant-making. This would represent a transformative shift in how grants are administered, with far-reaching implications, and we ask you to join with GSA in speaking up to both the presidential administration and Congress.

The proposed rule from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) would require “senior appointees” at federal agencies to review and approve all discretionary grants. While the peer-review process would remain in place, peer-review panels would assume more advisory roles. If the rule is adopted, peer-review scores for grant applications could be overturned by political appointees.

Further, ongoing grants would be subject to termination at any time. Without any empirical basis, multi-year studies and clinical trials could be terminated. The proposal also seeks to disallow costs for article processing charges and conference attendance. Another stipulation calls for the termination of DEI-related research; work that focuses on health disparities across diverse subpopulations is also threatened.  

There is a public comment period for this proposed rule that ends July 13. GSA is working to respond and is teaming up with other scientific organizations to request an extension. When responding as an individual, be sure to articulate how you, your institution, and your community would be specifically affected. (If you would like to submit a comment to include in GSA’s response, contact our policy team at profaff@geron.org by July 1.) Our colleagues at Research!America, a non-profit research advocacy alliance, are hosting a webinar on Wednesday, June 17, at 12 p.m. ET on how to respond to the OMB proposed rule.

GSA’s website can guide you to contact information for your representative and senators, too. Congress needs to hear from constituents about the local impact of this proposal. They proved to be bipartisan allies last year in preventing the administration’s proposed cuts to the National Institutes of Health budget and allowable indirect costs for grants.

Public comments are an important part of federal rulemaking. GSA will continue to monitor developments related to the OMB proposed rule, and I encourage members to remain engaged through GSA’s policy communications and updates.