Proposed new US funding rules: We can cancel any grant at any time Proposed federal rules would diminish the role of scientific peer review in grant funding, giving political appointees final say and prioritizing vague standards like “national interest” over scientific merit. The rules would also allow agencies to cancel grants at any time and ban funding for topics deemed part of a “culture war,” such as DEI initiatives and discussions of gender identity. Furthermore, international collaborations could be restricted, and expenses for publishing papers or attending conferences would require special approval, potentially isolating US scientists and hindering research.

• New proposed federal rules would make political appointees, not peer reviewers, the final decision-makers for US grant funding.
• Agencies would gain the power to cancel any grant at any time based on a vague assertion of “national interest.”
• Grants on “culture war” topics, including DEI and gender ideology, would be banned.
• International collaborations, particularly with China, would be restricted, favoring a “domestic-first” approach.
• Costs associated with publishing papers and attending conferences would require advance approval from funding agencies.
• The proposed rules are being implemented through the formal federal rulemaking process via the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Continue reading https://arstechnica.com/science/2026/05/the-office-of-management-and-budget-tries-again-to-cripple-us-science/