Official Daily Action for Friday, June 12th, 2026
The ‘Regulation to Federal Financial Assistance’ is an innocuously named rule that puts all scientific, infrastructure, and other federal grants decisions into the hands of Russell Vought, Director of the Office of Management and Budget.
This will allow them to:
- ignore peer review
- decide against funding any grant at the president’s whim
- cancel any grant at any time
- not let scientists use grant money to publish or attend conferences without written permission (gag rule!)
and many other devastating effects on scientific research and community infrastructure projects. Comments due by July 13th. Links with more details in reply below.
This rule takes away Congress’ power of the purse and gives it to the OMB, contrary to settled statute. It will let White House appointees veto any grant at any time – before or after the money is awarded – with no explanation, no appeal.
ACTION:
Make comments at the ‘Regulation to Federal Financial Assistance’ item
https://www.regulations.gov/document/OMB-2026-0034-0001
Do not copy anyone else’s comment, including examples. The government counts all identical comments as a single comment. There are examples in “Potential Impact on Infrastructure – A Rule Nobody Voted On Could Cut Federal Funding to Your Community“.
AND/OR
Give your congressperson an opinion on this illegal rule, too.
Senator Patty Murray: 202-224-2621 / 206-553-5545
Senator Maria Cantwell: 202-224-3441 / 206-220-6400
Rep. Pramila Jayapal: 202-225-3106 / 206-674-0040
Rep. Adam Smith: 202-225-8901 / 425-793-5180
SCRIPT:
My name is [NAME] and I live in [city, postal code]. I’m calling to ask the [Senator/Representative] to fight against the deceptively named ‘Regulation to Federal Financial Assistance’. Congress should stay in charge of research funding, not hand that control over to the Office of Budget Management. Our roads, schools, transit systems, hospitals, behavioral health clinics, and so much more are at risk from this rule. Do not allow this to pass! Thank you.
BACKGROUND:
Impact on Science – Breakdown of OMB Proposed Rule
White House Plan to Take Over Federal Grantmaking Draws Criticism from Science Groups
Proposed Federal Grant Regulation Changes: Important Information for the Research Community
We record Seattle Indivisible’s impact here, so please add your hard work too! https://goo.gl/forms/lbHUvI9h58f0dLqx1
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