On May 29, the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued a lengthy, complex proposed rule, Regulation for Federal Financial Assistance, that would make major changes to the Uniform Guidance governing federal financial assistance, including research grants and cooperative agreements. The rule would codify several Executive Orders that the Administration has issued over the last year. The rule’s proposed changes that are likely to have wide-ranging impacts for PAA members include:
- Requiring that every new grant program explicitly aligns with the Administration’s policies and priorities, as opposed to scientific need, statutory mandate, or scientific community advice.
- Requiring that political appointees (not career scientists or program officers) within federal agencies sign off on grants before they are awarded to ensure that the funding will be used to “demonstrably advance the President’s policy priorities.”
- Allowing for the termination of grants at any time (including retroactively) if they are found to be “inconsistent with program goals or agency priorities.” Currently this could only be accomplished if there was evidence of noncompliance or fraud on the part of the awardee.
- Completely blocking federal funds from being used to “fund, promote, encourage, subsidize, or facilitate DEI or DEIA policies or practices…”
- Significantly limiting international research collaborations.
- Giving OMB authority to limit eligibility for grant programs, including to nonprofit organizations or based on an applicant’s membership in certain professional or advocacy groups.
- Requiring pre-approval to use grant funds for attendance at scientific conferences.
- Prohibiting the use of federal funds for journal publication costs.
The research community anticipated the Administration proposing changes to the Uniform Guidance. However, no one envisioned these changes having such far-reaching implications, fundamentally impacting how the federal government supports research.
The Population Association of America (PAA) shares the concerns other organizations in the public, private, and non-profit sectors have already expressed about the rule’s intended and unintended consequences if implemented. To that end, PAA signed a multi-organizational letter and sent our own, requesting that OMB extend the comment period given the rule’s expansive impact. Unfortunately, OMB rejected this request, reaffirming the original deadline for comments of July 13.
PAA, along with the Association of Population Centers, will be submitting constructive comments in response to the proposed rule. Our goal is to finalize our comments no later than the first week of July so we can share them widely and encourage interested PAA members to amplify our views in their personal submissions.
Of course, if you would like to proceed with submitting your own comments now, there are numerous resources that can inform you about the rule and its implications. A few of those resources are listed below as well as the direct link to the site where comments can be uploaded. It is important to follow the submission instructions if you want OMB to consider your comments. In addition, please remember to represent yourself and not your institution nor any other organization if you are submitting your own comments and to personalize your comments as well.
Thank you for your attention to this important matter and support as PAA continues to navigate these challenging times.
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