OMB’s Proposed Federal Grant Rule
In late May, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued a proposed rule that would significantly change how grants and cooperative agreements are awarded, managed, and terminated across the federal government. OMB set an Oct. 1 date for finalizing the proposed rule.
This proposal would weaken the role of expert scientific review in funding decisions while:
- Elevating political review
- Expanding agencies’ authority to suspend or terminate clinical trials and other research without any right to appeal
- Allowing grant requirements to be changed midstream
- Jeopardizing health disparities research
- Disincentivizing research collaborations and scientific exchange
- Imposing significant new bureaucratic requirements that slow, add costs to, and reduce the volume of research conducted in the U.S.
Taken together, these changes would move the federal research funding system away from scientific merit, collaboration, and stability. The result would be slower scientific and medical progress, delaying the discoveries, treatments, cures, and public health advances that Americans depend on.
We encouraged individuals and organizations to submit public comments about this proposed rule using the resources below. Comments were due July 13. You can find Research!America’s submitted comments here.
UPDATE: Advocacy by patient advocates, researchers, and the entire science and innovation community played an instrumental role in the Senate’s decision to include a provision in a Continuing Resolution preventing OMB from finalizing the proposed rule until at least Dec. 11. The House still needs to act before this delay is signed into law.
Use the Take Action button below to continue pressing for the proposed rule to be stopped altogether. The more people members of Congress hear from with concerns about the proposed rule, the greater the chances are that it will be delayed and ultimately stopped.
To better understand the impact of the proposed rule and to review comments from other organizations, explore our collection of resources below.
Resources
From Research!America
Research!America’s Submitted Comments
August Recess Advocacy Guide: Discussing OMB’s Proposed Grant Rule
NSF Guidance on Financial Assistance Draft For Public Comment
Research!America: Proposed OMB Rule Would Damage America’s Ability to Conduct Research
Guide to Commenting on the OMB Proposed Rule “Regulation for Federal Financial Assistance”
Frequently Asked Questions about Submitting Comments on the OMB Proposed Rule
Video Recording: Alliance Discussion: Responding to OMB’s Proposed Rule
Filed Comments, News Releases
AcademyHealth Submitted Comments
Academy of Physicians in Clinical Research (APCR) Submitted Comments
Alliance for Aging Research Submitted Comments
American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Submitted Comments
American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (AADOCR) Submitted Comments
American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS) Submitted Comments
American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR) Submitted Comments
American Society for Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (ASCPT) Submitted Comments
American Society for Microbiology (ASM) Submitted Comments
American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH) Submitted Comments
Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Statement on OMB Rule
Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) Submitted Comments
Association of American Universities (AAU) Submitted Comments
Association of Independent Research Institutes (AIRI) Submitted Comments
Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities (APLU) Submitted Comments
Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health (ASPPH) Submitted Comment
Council on Government Relations (COGR) Submitted Comments
Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) Submitted Comments
Friends of VA Medical Care and Health Research (FOVA) Submitted Comments
Joint Law Enforcement Submitted Comments
Large Public Power Council (LPPC) Submitted Comments
National Association of Veterans Research and Education Foundations (NAVREF) Submitted Comments
Population Association of America (PAA) Submitted Comments
Society for Neuroscience (SfN) Submitted Comments
Special Competitive Studies Project (SCSP) Submitted Comments
Government Resources
White House’s Statement on the CR
Regulations.gov: Guidance on Submitting Comments
Congressional Correspondence
APLU Congressional Letter Tracker
Letter sent by Democratic Women’s Caucus Leadership
Letter sent by Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), on Needed Revisions to Rule
Letter signed by 47 Democratic Senators in Opposition to Rule
Letter sent by House Democrats in Opposition to Rule, led by Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD)
Ranking Member Neal’s Letter to Director Vought and Secretary Kennedy
Other Resources
American Association for Cancer Research (AACR): Action Alert
American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Comment Guidance
American Geophysical Union: Public Comment Toolkit
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Comment Guidance
American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS) One Pager
American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering Action Alert
American Mathematical Society Action Alert
American Psychological Association Comment Guidance
Association of American Medical Colleges Comment Guidance
Clean Energy Business Network Sign-on Letter
FASEB: Make Congress Aware of OMB Rule Impact
National Council of Nonprofits: Proposed Changes to the OMB Uniform Guidance
National Council of Nonprofits: Comment Guide
National Postdoctoral Association Comment Guidance