The White House has quietly published a set of sweeping policy changes that would require all federal grants to universities and non-governmental organisations to be vetted for fidelity to 'American values', as defined by President Donald Trump. The proposal, issued by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), stipulates that grants must 'demonstrably advance the president's policy priorities'.
The 400-page document, released without a press release, claims that federal awards during the Biden administration promoted a 'woke' policy agenda that did not reflect the values of most Americans, wasting taxpayer resources and harming public trust. More than 3,000 public comments have been filed, almost exclusively in opposition.
Experts warn the changes would bypass peer review in favour of political oversight, allow grants to be terminated at any time for any reason, and restrict funding for publishing, conferences, and international collaboration. Andy McCammon, a chemistry professor at the University of California, San Diego, called it 'another devastating blow to American science'.
The rules would codify executive orders barring support for diversity, equity and inclusion activities and LGBTQ+ gender identification. Political appointees could cancel any grant deemed not 'in the national interest', undermining rigorous peer review. Amy Sharma of Science for Georgia described an earlier initiative where grants were yanked for containing words like 'equality' or 'diversity'.
One provision bans using grant money to support 'disparate-impact' liability, including studies or litigation showing disproportionate harm to people of colour or other protected classes. Researchers also note practical problems, such as requiring grantees to list conferences over a five-year period, which Barbara Nikolajczyk of the University of Kentucky says inhibits good science.
