Senate stopgap bill temporarily blocks White House plan to politicize federal research grants

Senate leadership released text of a bipartisan continuing resolution that would fund the government through Dec. 11 and include a provision blocking the White House's proposal to place political appointees in charge of federal research grants.

The measure, crafted in the appropriations committee with Republican agreement, would prevent the Trump administration's new grant rule from taking effect during the stopgap period, making it harder for Republicans to adopt the plan later.

The House version of the funding bill, passed earlier, does not contain a similar block, and the House is currently in recess. Both chambers will need to reconcile differences when they reconvene after the August recess.