ACP strongly opposed to proposed changes to research funding

Statement attributable to:
Jan K. Carney, MD, MPH, MACP
President, American College of Physicians

WASHINGTON, June 9, 2026-The American College of Physicians (ACP) is deeply concerned about the Office of Management and Budget's proposed changes to the rules governing federal grants. The proposed rules would direct "senior appointees" at federal agencies to take charge of awarding and terminating new and existing research grants and other federal awards. As an organization with a mission to promote evidence-based medicine, we know the value of independent review by clinical and scientific experts. OMB's proposal would directly interfere with the rigorous, evidence-based, peer review that determines where federal research funds are best spent by allowing political appointees to override the judgement of scientists trained to best evaluate the quality of research. Policies that move us away from the scientific process weaken the integrity and competitiveness of U.S. research; hinder our nation's ability to advance scientific discovery; and will harm public health and patient care. Proposed restrictions on publication of federally funded research would also keep that funding from achieving its intended public benefit by making discoveries inaccessible to the clinicians, health systems, researchers, and policymakers responsible for improving patient care. The U.S. needs policies that continue to foster research based on the scientific peer review process and maximize the potential of our public funds to improve the health of our nation.

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About the American College of Physicians

The American College of Physicians is the largest medical specialty organization in the United States with members in more than 172 countries worldwide. ACP membership includes 163,000 internal medicine physicians, related subspecialists, and medical students. Internal medicine physicians are specialists who apply scientific knowledge and clinical expertise to the diagnosis, treatment, and compassionate care of adults across the spectrum from health to complex illness. Follow ACP on X, Facebook, Instagram, Threads and LinkedIn, and subscribe to our new RSS feed.

Contact: Jacquelyn Blaser, (202) 261-4572, [email protected]