Trump administration science funding rule draws criticism
7 reported
A proposed rule change by the Trump administration to the Regulation for Federal Financial Assistance is being criticized as a threat to the U.S. system of science funding, according to a report on marginalrevolution.com. The article states that the rule would give the president and political appointees discretion to cancel funding or target recipients for virtually any reason, with little recourse. White House officials argue the rule is necessary for more accountability over federal grantmaking, but observers fear it will expand opportunities for politicization, abuse, and corruption. Organizations like the AAAS oppose the rule with strongly worded dissents, calling it a power grab. Independent thinkers, including Tyler Cowen and Noah Smith, are also quoted criticizing the rule as potentially catastrophic for American science. The article warns that centralized control of science is the default in authoritarian nations and that decentralization is a fragile exception.
What’s reported
The Trump administration is rewriting the Regulation for Federal Financial Assistance.
The proposed rule would give the president and political appointees discretion to cancel funding or target recipients for virtually any reason, with little recourse.
White House officials argue the rule is necessary for more accountability over federal grantmaking.
Observers fear the shift will expand opportunities for politicization, abuse, and corruption.
The AAAS opposes the rule with unusually strongly worded dissents.
Tyler Cowen and Noah Smith are quoted criticizing the rule.
The article states that centralized control of science is the norm in authoritarian nations.
Key figures
Tyler Cowen (author of the original post "The Nationalization of American Science")
Noah Smith (quoted criticizing the rule)
AAAS (organization opposing the rule)
Director of the Office of Management and Budget (mentioned as the official behind the rule)
Sources: marginalrevolution.com
