White House Proposal to Give Political Appointees More Grant Power Draws Widespread Opposition
7 verified1 unconfirmed
The Trump administration has proposed a rule change that would give political appointees greater authority over federal research grants, allowing them to override recommendations from scientific peer review. The public comment period on the proposal ended July 15, 2026, drawing hundreds of thousands of responses. The rule, proposed by the Office of Management and Budget, would affect agencies such as NASA and the National Science Foundation. Critics argue it could compromise scientific integrity and allow political interference in funding decisions. The administration says the change is about accountability and ensuring taxpayer dollars are spent wisely. The rule could take effect as early as October, though legal challenges are anticipated.
What’s verified
The Office of Management and Budget proposed a rule change to give political appointees more authority over federal research grants.
The rule would allow political appointees to override recommendations from scientific peer review.
The public comment period concluded on July 15, 2026.
A wide range of experts, including research groups, hospitals, and nonprofits, expressed opposition.
The administration stated the rule is about accountability and ensuring taxpayer dollars are spent wisely.
The rule could go into effect as early as October 2026.
Some organizations are preparing to sue if the rule is finalized.
Not yet confirmed
An analysis of public comments found that approximately 95% opposed the rule, with only 1% in support, according to a single report. The same analysis noted that 76% of comments came from individuals, 22% anonymously, and 0.5% from organizations. It is unclear how the Office of Management and Budget will respond to the substantive comments or whether the rule will face legal challenges that delay its implementation.
Key figures
Heather Pierce (senior director of science policy, Association of American Medical Colleges), Sudip Parikh (CEO, American Association for the Advancement of Science), Stuart Shapiro (dean, Rutgers School of Planning and Public Policy), Maria Gallo (epidemiologist, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill), Alexa Dietrich (research director, Center for Science and Democracy, Union of Concerned Scientists), Kali Murray (legal expert, Marquette University), Matt Owens (president, COGR), Steven Balla (political scientist, George Washington University), Jae Yeon Kim (assistant professor, UNC), Betsy Pleasants (postdoctoral fellow, UNC).
Sources: NPR, statnews.com
