Scientists push back against proposed Trump research grant rule
9 reported
A proposed rule from the Trump administration’s Office of Management and Budget would place all federal research and other grants under the control of political appointees, according to a report from The Guardian. The rule, proposed by OMB director Russ Vought on May 29, would prohibit grants that “promote anti-American values” and require awards to “demonstrably advance the president’s policy priorities,” as quoted by former NIH official Elizabeth Ginexi. Colette Delawalla, founder of the group Stand Up for Science, called the rule “fascism” and said it would create a “$1.5tn slush fund” under Trump’s control. Delawalla, a clinical psychologist and researcher at Emory University, recently met with more than 30 members of Congress on Capitol Hill to oppose the rule. Stand Up for Science has urged public comments on the rule by the July 13 deadline, and nearly 31,000 comments had been left as of Thursday morning. The organization also held a virtual meeting with about 50 attorneys to discuss legal strategies if the rule is enacted. Delawalla’s group analyzed about 10,000 NIH-funded trials and estimated nearly half could be discontinued under the rule, including over 1,000 cancer-related trials and hundreds of pediatric, veteran, suicide, heart disease, and diabetes studies.
What’s reported
The proposed rule was issued by OMB director Russ Vought on May 29.
The rule would place all federal research and other grants under political appointees, not scientific experts.
The rule prohibits grants that “promote anti-American values” and requires awards to “demonstrably advance the president’s policy priorities.”
Colette Delawalla, founder of Stand Up for Science, called the rule “fascism” and said it would create a “$1.5tn slush fund.”
Delawalla met with more than 30 members of Congress on Capitol Hill.
Nearly 31,000 public comments had been left on the rule as of Thursday morning.
Stand Up for Science held a virtual meeting with about 50 attorneys to discuss legal strategies.
The group analyzed about 10,000 NIH-funded trials and estimated nearly half could be discontinued.
Discontinued trials could include over 1,000 cancer-related trials, hundreds of pediatric studies, and hundreds of trials on veterans, suicide, heart disease, and diabetes.
Key figures
Colette Delawalla, founder of Stand Up for Science, clinical psychologist and researcher at Emory University
Russ Vought, OMB director
Elizabeth Ginexi, former NIH program official
Senator Chris Van Hollen (Maryland Democrat)
Sources: The Guardian
