OMB Proposes Rule Giving Political Appointees Oversight of Federal Science Grants

The Office of Management and Budget issued a proposed rule that would give political appointees control over federal grant funding for scientific research. The rule would restrict the use of grants for open-access publication of research papers and allow termination of funding based on the associations or political leanings of scientists.

The proposal has received more than 500,000 public comments as of July 17, 2026.

A typical OMB proposed rule receives fewer than 100 comments. Casey Dreier, chief of space policy at The Planetary Society, said nearly every proposed aspect of the rule changes has some deleterious or negative consequence for the practice of science.

He said there is no really good argument for forbidding the use of grant funding for open-access publication unless it is a means of control over the scientists themselves.

Dreier also said grants can be revoked at any time, for any reason, if deemed against the interests of the president’s whims. He noted a distinction between data collection and science, stating that the science is what happens when you pay a scientist to sit down and look at the data, interpret it, model it, test it, and then present it.

A Senate hearing was held with OMB director Russell Vought regarding the proposed rule.

Democratic senators described the effects of the rule as absurdity and bias during the hearing. A group of 24 governors and attorneys general argue that the OMB rule is unconstitutional and a violation of the separation of powers. The OMB does not appear disposed to withdraw the proposal and it will likely face legal challenges.