How the Trump Administration Plans to Politicize Federal Grants
The Trump Administration has proposed significant changes to the federal grant distribution process, which critics argue could lead to political interference in research funding. The new rules would require senior appointees to review grants based on alignment with the President's policy priorities. This proposal has raised concerns among researchers about its potential impact on scientific independence and merit-based funding.
- ▪The proposal requires senior appointees to conduct reviews of federal grants to ensure they align with the President's policy priorities.
- ▪Critics warn that this could lead to political interference in research funding and undermine scientific independence.
- ▪The public comment period for the proposal is open until July 13, with implementation aimed for October.
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The Trump Administration has proposed what could be the biggest overhaul in years of how the federal government distributes billions of dollars in grants, requiring senior appointees to conduct “pre-issuance reviews” that critics say pave the way for political interference in what should be independent research funding.The proposal, which was more than 400 pages long and was published in the Federal Register Friday, by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) calls for the review of awards on several grounds, including whether they “demonstrably advance the President's policy priorities.” Agencies would also have broad authority to terminate awards if they decide that a grant no longer aligns with government goals or interests, similar to “termination for convenience” provisions in…
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