JOINSTM joins the research community in defense of independent scholarly communication and merit review
STM has submitted comments to the United States Office of Management and Budget (OMB) opposing proposed changes to federal grant regulations that would undermine independent expert review, scholarly communication, and the dissemination of research findings. It joins a broad coalition of universities, scientific societies, publishers, libraries, and research organisations that have expressed concern that the proposed rule would weaken longstanding principles that have enabled the United States to become the world’s leading scientific enterprise.
The submission argues that many of the proposed conditions will be counter to the values of scholarly publishing and also expressed across many US Administrations, including the current one: independent merit review, excellence and integrity; transparency and accountability for the research enterprise; support and encouragement of accurate and useful sharing information related to research; and open dialogue and collaboration about research across the globe.
In particular, the submission argues that the proposed restrictions on publication, subscription and conference costs would undermine the ability of researchers to access prior knowledge, communicate new findings, and meet public access expectations. STM notes that publication is not an optional add-on to research, but an essential part of the research process that enables discoveries to be validated, shared and translated into scientific, economic and societal benefit.
STM’s comments also emphasise that the policies governing federally funded research should reinforce, rather than weaken, the systems that have helped make the United States a global leader in science and innovation. Central among these is independent merit review. For decades, expert evaluation based on scientific quality, significance, and potential impact has provided the foundation for identifying promising research and stewarding public investments in science. These same principles underpin scholarly publishing, where independent peer review remains the cornerstone of evaluating and validating research findings. They are also the principles expressed in the President’s Gold Standard Science initiatives.
The submission further highlights the importance of maintaining the conditions that enable research to thrive in a globally connected environment. Proposed restrictions on international collaboration could limit access to expertise, partnerships, and knowledge networks that strengthen research quality and impact. STM also raises concerns that expanded grant termination powers and reduced transparency in funding opportunities would create uncertainty for researchers and institutions, making long-term planning more difficult and potentially undermining confidence in the federal research funding system.
“STM continues to support policies that strengthen research excellence, public trust in science, and the ability of scientific knowledge to serve society. We hope that our comment and the ongoing regulatory process will lead to policies that better support the research enterprise. STM stands ready to work with policymakers and others in the research ecosystem to support research in America and worldwide.”
– Caroline Sutton, CEO