Trump administration proposes overhaul of federal grant rules, sparking researcher concerns

The White House released a more than 400-page proposal that would rewrite the core regulation governing all federal grants. The administration says the changes are meant to curb waste and increase oversight.

The draft would shift emphasis away from peer review when deciding which projects receive funding, restrict scientists' ability to use federal money for publishing papers or attending conferences, and give political appointees broader authority to end grants at their discretion.

Researchers expressed alarm, warning that the moves could undermine the independence of scientific inquiry and slow progress in biomedical research. If adopted, the policy would apply across government agencies, potentially reshaping the funding landscape for pharma and biotech development.