The US Office of Management and Budget proposed a new rule in May that would change how federal science grants work. The deadline to comment? Monday, July 13. That’s coming fast.
Here’s what the rule would do: put political priorities in charge of what science gets funded. Peer review — the system experts use to judge scientific merit — would take a back seat. Political appointees would have the final say. Grants could be canceled after they’re awarded. Decisions would be based on vague standards like “the national interest” and “aligned with administration policies.”
This isn’t just an executive order. It would have the force of law and be much harder to challenge in court.
Scientific organizations are alarmed. The American Association for Cancer Research called it “a major threat to the National Institutes of Health.” The American Cancer Society warned it would create “a chronically unpredictable environment” for long-term research. The American Geophysical Union said it would “rewrite the terms of US science.” The American Physical Society was blunt: “These proposals would let political preference override expert peer review.”
You can comment at regulations.gov on docket OMB-2026-0034-0001. The feedback process requires the government to at least consider what people say before finalizing the rule. Craft your submission clearly, reference specific concerns, and submit before July 13.
Science funding has relied on peer review for generations. This proposal would change that fundamentally. The deadline is real. Say something.
