Trump administration seeks federal grant oversight
FILE - U.S. President Donald Trump delivers a speech about the economy at Rockland Community College Fieldhouse in Suffern, New York, on May 22, 2026. (Photo by Brendan Smialowski / AFP via Getty Images)
The Trump administration is looking to have oversight over the approval of federal grant dollars.
The Office of Management and Budget issued the 400-page proposal last week.
Trump administration federal grant oversight proposal
Big picture view:
The new proposed rules would require senior administration officials to review funding awards to ensure they align with the law and presidential priorities.
"Discretionary awards must, where applicable, demonstrably advance the President's policy priorities," the proposal says.
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Dig deeper:
The rules would also give administration officials more freedom to terminate grants that have already been awarded, a process that could jeopardize millions of dollars in ongoing research.
What they're saying:
The Office of Management and Budget said President Joe Biden's administration allowed a lack of transparency, accountability and oversight in the federal grant process that led to "woke" programs receiving federal funding.
"Collectively, these policies wasted a great amount of taxpayer resources and caused great harm to public trust in government," the document reads. "The proposed reforms are necessary to ensure greater accountability for use of public funds."
The other side:
The proposal faces criticism from advocacy groups, and scientists warn the move could cripple research.
Dr. Georges C. Benjamin, the chief executive of the American Public Health Association, a professional organization and advocacy group, told The New York Times the policy could "devastate innovation, science and research" in the United States.
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Meanwhile:
Throughout the president's second term, his administration has been terminating research grants on topics that the president deems inappropriate for study, including transgender health and diversity, equity and inclusion.
What's next:
After a public comment period, OMB and federal agencies will decide whether to revise the proposal before finalizing it as soon as this summer.
The Source: Information in this article was taken from the Office of Management and Budget’s proposal. Background information was taken from The Associated Press and The New York Times. This story was reported from Detroit.