Advocacy Network News

OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT (OMB) PROPOSES CHANGES TO FEDERAL GRANTMAKING PROCESS

On Friday, May 29, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) released a proposed rule (Docket OMB-2026-0034) in the Federal Register that would revise several parts of the OMB Guidance for Federal Financial Assistance. It seeks to make significant changes to the rules governing the assessment, awarding, and management of federal research grants and all other types of federal assistance. This proposed rule, if finalized, would apply government-wide, affecting agencies including NIH and NSF. The proposed rule would result in several changes, including:

Shift final authority for peer review: Senior political appointees (in place of career scientists or program officers) would be required to conduct a “pre-issuance review” of every discretionary grant before it is awarded. These appointees would be explicitly forbidden from deferring to peer reviewers or routinely ratifying their recommendations.

Allow termination of active grants: The proposed rule allows for federal agencies to terminate active grants to be terminated if they are found to be “inconsistent with program goals or agency priorities.”

Restrict scientific communication: The proposed rule would require agency approval for conference attendance costs and would make publication costs, including article processing charges and open-access fees, unallowable unless specifically approved by the agency.

Limit international collaboration: The proposed rule prohibits federally funded collaborations with researchers in designated “covered countries,” including China, Russia, and Iran.

Find more information and a summary of the proposed changes.

Share Your Comments with OMB Now! 

Submit your comment directly to OMB using SfN's portal. Comments on the proposed rule are due by July 13, and OMB is seeking to finalize the rule with an effective date of October 1. 

Submit Comments to OMB

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