Trump Administration Proposes 412-Page Rule to Curb Federal Research Funding
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jun 9
Trump Administration Proposes 412-Page Rule to Curb Federal Research Funding
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jun 9
Summary
A 412-page Office of Management and Budget proposal would let political appointees overrule scientific grant reviews and deny funding deemed inconsistent with presidential priorities.
The administration says the change is needed to fix weak oversight and stop federal money from advancing a “woke” agenda, especially diversity, equity and inclusion programs tied to the Biden years.
The draft would reduce peer review from a process agencies routinely defer to into an advisory role, shifting final grant decisions from scientists toward politically appointed officials.
That authority could reach virtually every federal grant program—including health, climate, housing, transportation and disaster recovery—and affect billions of taxpayer-funded research dollars.
With peer review demoted, what new criteria will decide who gets billions in federal research funding?
Beyond science, how might new rules reshape funding for disaster recovery, housing, and transportation?
How will sidelining scientific experts in grant approvals affect America's global leadership in innovation?
The 2026 OMB Rule: How Trump’s Proposed Overhaul Risks Politicizing and Destabilizing American Science Funding
Overview
The Trump administration’s proposed federal research funding rule, released by the White House OMB on May 29, 2026, marks a major shift for U.S. science. Experts warn it could be catastrophic, as it centralizes decision-making within the Executive Branch and risks isolating American scientists from global collaboration. The rule introduces sweeping bans and requirements, including prohibitions on DEI, gender ideology, and certain political activities in grant funding. These changes threaten the independence of scientific research, raising widespread concern about the future direction and integrity of the U.S. research enterprise.