The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has proposed sweeping changes to the processes used to award and administer all federal grant funding. Among other things, the proposal would require political appointees to review grant requests and treat scientific peer review — the current method used to award federal dollars — as merely advisory. The OMB proposal, which was posted at the end of May, has already drawn more than 93,000 public comments — an enormous volume compared with other regulatory plans. The comment period is still open through July 13. The agency says it intends to finalize the rule in time for it to take effect October 1. The Endocrine Society submitted a formal comment letter to OMB.
The Endocrine Society is also urging Congress to call for the withdrawal of the proposal and, if necessary, to intervene legislatively to prevent implementation. Our efforts are picking up traction. In the last week, the entire Senate Democratic caucus urged OMB to withdraw the proposal entirely, arguing that it would politicize federal grantmaking and weaken Congress's authority over federal spending, and Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Susan Collins (R-ME) called on OMB to withdraw key provisions of the rule and extend the public comment period. These letters were consistent with our own arguments about how the changes could undermine scientific and biomedical research and supersede the merit-based process that Congress intended scientific agencies to use to fund grants. These developments demonstrate that concerns about the proposal extend beyond politics and reflect broad worries about its potential impact on research, innovation, and patient care.
While bipartisan opposition is encouraging, it does not mean the proposal will be withdrawn. Some congressional Republicans and administration officials have expressed support for the proposed changes, arguing that it is necessary for increased oversight of federal grants, making continued advocacy from the scientific and medical community essential. Policymakers must continue to hear directly from you about the real-world consequences of these changes.
TAKE ACTION: Please take a moment to take one or more of the following actions. Your voice matters and can influence the outcome of this proposal:
It is essential that policymakers hear directly from members of the scientific and medical community about the impacts of this rule. Recent developments demonstrate that Congress is paying attention—but the outcome remains uncertain. Your voice can help ensure that federal research funding remains grounded in scientific merit and continues to advance endocrine health, biomedical innovation, and patient care.
Endocrine Society Leads Joint Letter Urging Senate HELP Committee to Pass INSULIN Act
We rely on your voice to advocate for our policy priorities. Join us to show our strength as a community that cares about endocrinology. Contact your US representatives or European Members of Parliament through our online platform. Take action and make a difference today.
