Federal Update: President Donald J. Trump Halts Unnecessary Grant Distribution
In a bid to ensure taxpayer dollars are spent wisely, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order aimed at stopping unelected bureaucrats from wasting funds on frivolous grants. The order, which prioritizes merit-based decisions, is part of the President's broader commitment to eliminating waste and fraud in the Federal government.
The Executive Order directs federal agencies to award grants to a wide array of meritorious grantees, not just universities and nonprofits that have received awards year after year. Grants will be terminated if they do not benefit the American public, align with Administration priorities, or are inconsistent with the policy objectives in the Order.
One of the most significant changes brought about by the Order is the installation of noncareer political appointees to oversee grant announcements and funding decisions. This move allows political appointees to overrule scientific peer reviewers and more easily terminate grants.
The Order has already resulted in the termination of numerous wasteful grants. For instance, 21 EPA-funded climate justice projects, including a $18.8 million grant for solar-powered greenhouses in California's Eastern Coachella Valley, were terminated. Similarly, an NIH-funded clinical trial on air purifiers for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was abruptly terminated, halting potentially valuable public health research.
The Order also mandates that agencies simplify funding opportunity announcements with plain language, making it easier for all interested parties to understand and apply for grants.
Critics argue that this approach politicizes scientific grant decisions, but the Trump Administration maintains that it is a necessary measure to end waste and fraud in federal grantmaking. The Order seeks to ensure that grant funding aligns more closely with merit and American interests, while eliminating funding that supports what the Administration views as radical ideologies such as DEI or environmental justice programs.
Under the Order, grant funding opportunity announcements and awards will be reviewed by President Trump's appointees to ensure they benefit Americans. Award decisions will undergo more rigorous evaluation by political appointees and subject matter experts, ensuring that only the most deserving projects receive funding.
References:
- New York Post
- The Washington Post
- Nature
- The Atlantic
- The Executive Order, enforced by political appointees, has caused a shift in grant allocation, prioritizing funding for projects that align with the Administration's priorities in fields like science, education, and health, as highlighted in general news outlets.
- Critics dispute the politicization of scientific grant decisions, as a result of the new policy-and-legislation, while the Trump Administration asserts that it's a vital step to eradicate waste and fraud, especially in the context of federal education and health grants.
- Amidst the changes brought about by the Executive Order, there has been a focus on simplifying grant announcements and making them more accessible to a broader audience in areas such as science, politics, and policy-and-legislation, as reported in various media outlets.
