Published by TrenBuzz.com | June 2, 2026
Key Points at a Glance – Trump’s OMB Just Rewrote
- Trump’s OMB published a 400-plus-page proposed regulation on May 29 restructuring the entire federal grantmaking process.
- Political appointees would now review all federal grants for compliance with presidential priorities before funds are disbursed.
- The rule minimizes peer review, allowing political staff to approve or terminate grants at will and at any time.
- Scientists can no longer use federal funds to publish research or travel to conferences under the proposed rules.
- The NSF board of advisers was entirely removed in late April, and $1.4 billion in research grants remain frozen.
- Nonprofits, universities, and science agencies have collectively lost or been denied over $3 billion in approved grants since 2025.
In Washington, they call it “uniform guidance.” Scientists across America are calling it something else entirely.
President Donald Trump’s administration on Friday moved to give political appointees more power over the billions of dollars in grants awarded by federal agencies, a move scientists say puts critical research funding into the hands of partisans without relevant expertise. In what would be the most sweeping change to the federal grantmaking process in years, the proposed regulations would require senior appointees to review funding to see if it complies with the law and the president’s priorities.
What the 400-Page Document Actually Changes
The changes, laid out in a 400-plus-page document published this week, would deemphasize the role of peer review in determining what work to fund, limit the ability for scientists to use federal funds to publish their research or travel to conferences, and offer political appointees more latitude to terminate grants at will.
Science Agencies Already in Chaos
In late April 2026, the Trump administration abruptly removed all members of the board of advisers that oversees the National Science Foundation, one of the nation’s premier science agencies. Its grantmaking had already slowed to a crawl since the start of the new fiscal year. The administration cut or froze over $3 billion in previously approved research grants from the NIH and NSF, with around $1.4 billion remaining frozen or canceled as of the beginning of 2026.
The Impact on Nonprofits and Communities
Since the start of the year, the White House has attempted to freeze federal funds, terminate contracts, and withhold federal grant funds to nonprofits. As a result, nonprofits nationwide have been forced to cut back on services, lay off staff, or close their doors.
In 2025, the Trump Administration would frequently decline to make clear what grants or contracts it was terminating and why, making it difficult for the public to know the scale of actions being taken, or for Congress to provide effective oversight.
The peer review system that built American scientific dominance since World War II is now one executive order away from being replaced by a loyalty review system. Scientists say that is not oversight. That is control.
Disclaimer: This article is for general informational and news reporting purposes only. All regulatory details, funding figures, and expert assessments are sourced from the Associated Press, Brennan Center for Justice, National Council of Nonprofits, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, and Inside Higher Ed as of May 29, 2026. The OMB proposed rules were published for public comment and had not been finalized as of publication. TrenBuzz.com does not represent any government or scientific body. Readers are encouraged to follow credible news and official government sources for the latest updates.