In a significant move, the Trump administration recently released an executive order that imposes political oversight on grant funding, which encompasses all federally financed research. The directive establishes a political framework for managing both the announcement of new funding opportunities and the approval processes for individual grants.
A response to this initiative has emerged from a coalition of over 50 scientific and medical organizations, which have sent a letter to Congress voicing strong concerns regarding the implications of the executive order. The letter calls on lawmakers to safeguard the integrity of the merit-based and peer-review systems that have historically guided the awarding of federal grants.
The newly implemented order mandates that any announcement related to funding opportunities is subject to review by either the head of the funding agency or a designated political appointee. This component raises fears that political interests may ultimately dictate funding directions in scientific research. Furthermore, individual grants will also require approval from political appointees and must demonstrate alignment with the President’s policy agenda, where applicable.
Additional stipulations within the order empower agencies to revoke previously awarded grants at any time if they are deemed to be inconsistent with current agency priorities. Moreover, until new compliance systems are established to uphold these regulations, agencies are prohibited from initiating new funding programs.
This overhaul effectively implies that any federal scientific research will require sanction from political figures who may lack the necessary expertise in the relevant disciplines, and funding can be retracted at any moment in response to shifting political climates. This shift could jeopardize a system that has supported U.S. scientific leadership for nearly seven decades.
