UCS, Other Organizations Send Letter Urging Congress to Block Political Interference in Federal Research Funding

The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) and 45 other organizations representing millions of members and supporters nationwide, today sent a letter urging congressional and appropriations committee leaders to stop the Trump administration from implementing proposed changes to federal grantmaking that would give political appointees greater influence over research funding decisions.

The proposed regulation from the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) would give political appointees with no scientific background, rather than panels of scientific experts vetted for conflicts-of-interest, preeminent authority to determine who gets billions of dollars of federal funding for scientific research. The regulation would impact nearly every area of federal research, including that related to medicine, public health, environmental protection, disaster preparedness, education, infrastructure and veterans' services.

Congress has already taken bipartisan action to temporarily block the proposed regulation. In September, lawmakers passed a government funding measure preventing OMB from finalizing the rule through December 11, 2026. However, the restriction is temporary, leaving the door open for the administration to move forward with the proposed changes after that date.

"Federal investments in research should be guided by rigorous peer review and the public interest-not a project's political convenience," said Dr. Gretchen Goldman, president and CEO of UCS.

Federal research funding has traditionally relied on scientific merit and expert peer review to evaluate the quality and potential public benefit of research proposals. Under the proposed rule, political appointees could consider whether research advances the president's policy priorities and assess applicants based on organizational affiliations. These changes would undermine scientific research in the United States and weaken the nation's ability to address pressing public challenges, putting democracy on even more tenuous ground.

"Federal research dollars are a public investment, and the public deserves a funding system that prioritizes evidence, accountability and the public good," said Dr. Goldman. "Congress must act now to prevent lasting damage to our nation's premier scientific enterprise."