Senate funding resolution seeks to put OMB rule changes to research grants on hold
These proposed changes have seen significant bipartisan pushback and have been criticized by scientists across disciplines
A Senate funding resolution aims to halt proposed Office of Management and Budget (OMB) rule changes concerning research grants. These alterations would grant political appointees the authority to review and decide on federal agency grant allocations, instead of the current system of independent peer reviewers. The draft legislation, set to fund the government until December 11, would postpone the OMB's rule changes for this period.
However, this does not prevent the rule changes from ever being implemented. Representative Rosa DeLauro, ranking Democrat on the House Committee on Appropriations, expressed concern over the temporary blockage of the OMB rule, emphasizing the need to permanently prevent the power grab. Scientists, including Nobel laureates, strongly opposed the proposal during the public comment period, warning it would politicize scientific processes and hinder U.S. advancements.
Senator Susan Collins, Republican chair of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, welcomed the resolution, stating she lobbied for changes citing the potential to harm small, rural communities and biomedical research.
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