OMB grant rule rewrite
Key Questions
What changes is OMB proposing to federal grant rules?
OMB has proposed a 412-page government-wide rewrite allowing agencies to terminate grants if they no longer serve program goals or national interest. Political appointees would gain authority to override peer review decisions. The rules directly affect HHS, Treasury, NIH, and other agencies.
How would the proposed OMB rules impact grant recipients and research?
The changes expand agency discretion to end awards mid-stream and shift power toward political appointees. This creates uncertainty for universities, nonprofits, and researchers funded by federal grants. A 45-day comment period ends July 13.
What countermeasures have been proposed to the OMB grant rule changes?
The Scientific Integrity Act has been introduced as a potential countermeasure to protect research independence. The overhaul represents a structural shift in federal grantmaking processes. It would apply across social programs and scientific research funding.
OMB proposes 412-page government-wide rewrite of federal grant rules, expanding agency discretion to terminate awards if they no longer serve program goals or national interest. Political appointees would override peer review. 45-day comment period ends July 13. Directly affects HHS, Treasury, and other agencies running social programs and NIH-funded research. Structural shift in federal grantmaking. Scientific Integrity Act proposed as countermeasure.