JOINSTM strongly opposes the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)’s proposed revisions to the Guidance for Federal Financial Assistance. We stand with colleagues across the library, university, and research communities in warning that these provisions will undermine the independent, rigorous system that has made American science the envy of the world.
The United States has long been a global leader not only because it funds research, but because it supports the system that makes research credible, discoverable, and usable. That system depends on independent review, freedom from political interference, and the ability to communicate findings effectively and without bias. OMB’s proposal risks breaking the core conditions required for independent, trustworthy research.
By shifting decisions away from evidence-based assessment toward administrative and political judgement, the proposal risks weakening the independent system of checks and balances that govern how research is evaluated and shared. It introduces uncertainty into processes designed to ensure research is rigorous, transparent, and trustworthy. Grantees need to know that their work will be evaluated without bias, and that they can plan and deliver complete research projects without fear of political interference or arbitrary termination.
The proposal’s restrictions on publication and dissemination risk limiting the reach and impact of federally funded research and inserts political decision-making into what should be an independent system. Research is not complete at the point of discovery – it achieves value only when findings are validated, communicated, and made accessible. This is how clinicians access evidence to inform care, innovators identify new technologies, policymakers make informed decisions, and the public benefits from the research it funds. Funding for publication and subscriptions is essential to ensure research delivers public value and researchers can build on the latest discoveries and knowledge.
The changes would jeopardize American scientific leadership on the global stage. Modern science depends on the free exchange of ideas and collaboration across borders to address the world’s most complex challenges. Restricting collaboration risks isolating US researchers, slowing down the pace and impact of US-led scientific progress.
OMB’s rule would introduce bias and instability into a system that depends on objectivity. This is fundamentally incompatible with serious, trustworthy scientific research and directly at odds with the stated ambitions of ‘Gold Standard Science.’ STM urges a reconsideration of these proposals to ensure continued support for the systems that underpin trusted research.