300+ Groups Urge OMB to Extend 45-Day Research Grant Rule Comment Period
Updated
Updated · POLITICO · Jun 12
300+ Groups Urge OMB to Extend 45-Day Research Grant Rule Comment Period
2 articles · Updated · POLITICO · Jun 12
Summary
More than 300 science, research, policy and education organizations asked the Office of Management and Budget on Thursday to lengthen the 45-day comment window for a proposed federal grant rule.
The rule would give political appointees across dozens of agencies greater power to review, award or cancel research grants to ensure discretionary funding advances the president’s policy priorities.
More than 15,000 public comments have already been filed, with groups including the Association of American Universities warning the changes could upend the federal research grants system.
Science leaders say the proposal would deepen disruption from Trump-era staff cuts and research funding reductions, while patient advocates warn canceled grants are already slowing the search for treatments.
OMB has said the changes would improve transparency, efficiency and stewardship of federal funds, but critics see the proposal as part of Russ Vought’s broader push to reshape the federal bureaucracy.