On Thursday, the Trump administration announced an executive order aimed at establishing political oversight over federal grant funding, which includes all federally funded research projects. The directive mandates that any announcement regarding funding opportunities must undergo review by the head of the pertinent agency or a designated representative, effectively placing critical funding decisions into the hands of political appointees. Furthermore, each individual grant will now require approval from a political figure and must align with the President’s policy goals wherever applicable.
The order also grants agencies the authority to revoke previously awarded grants at any point if they are deemed not to align with agency objectives. Until a new regulatory framework is established to enforce these stipulations, agencies are prohibited from launching new funding initiatives.
This development implies that all federally supported scientific research will now be subject to approval by political appointees who may lack expertise in the specific scientific fields concerned. Furthermore, ongoing research could be canceled due to changing political climates, signaling a potential shift away from the system that has supported U.S. scientific leadership for approximately seven decades.
Political Control Reinforced
The executive order reflects familiar criticisms the administration has previously raised regarding U.S. scientific efforts, including claims about excessive funding going towards university facilities and administrative costs, the prioritization of diversity within the scientific community, issues with replicable study results, and isolated instances of scientific misconduct. However, the proposed remedy—tightened control over the grant-making process by non-expert political appointees—has raised concerns.
Overall, the directive introduces an additional layer of political oversight over both the dissemination of new funding opportunities and the approval process for specific grants. It instructs the heads of all granting agencies, individuals appointed by the president, to either make funding decisions themselves or appoint another senior official to manage these decisions. Thus, this designated official will gain control over the progression of funding announcements and grants. Additionally, decisions will require ongoing coordination with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The head of OMB, Russell Vought, has played a significant role in efforts to reduce science funding, including a recent initiative to block grant approvals from the National Institutes of Health.
