Key facts
- President Donald Trump asked budget chief Russell Vought to draft an order to control health research funding.
President Donald Trump asked budget chief Russell Vought to draft an order that would give political appointees more control over federal grant-making for health research. The proposal aims to allow appointees to review and terminate grants that conflict with the president's priorities, a move criticized by lawmakers and scientists.
The proposed executive order could fundamentally alter how federal scientific research is funded, potentially injecting political considerations into decisions traditionally based on scientific merit, which could impact the direction and pace of medical advancements.
President Donald Trump requested that Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought draft an executive order that would centralize control over federal health research funding under political appointees. The move represents an escalation in the administration's efforts to exert political influence over the grant-making process for scientific research.
According to officials, Trump, Vought, and Bhattacharya were present at a meeting where the proposal was discussed. Education Secretary Linda McMahon was also in attendance but did not participate in the disagreement. Other officials present included Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, White House Counsel Will Scharf, and OMB General Counsel Mark Paoletta.
Vought has argued that political appointees should have more authority to review and terminate grants that do not align with the president's priorities, suggesting that career bureaucrats at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have favored progressive academics' research. The OMB had previously proposed a government-wide rule in May to give political appointees more power over federal grants, including the ability to block funding deemed inconsistent with administration policy.
This proposal has drawn criticism from lawmakers of both parties, scientists, and state attorneys general, who warn that it could politicize scientific research. Congress had previously included a provision in a September funding bill that barred the OMB from finalizing an earlier version of Vought's plan using appropriated funds. This restriction expires in mid-December, and the OMB could proceed if lawmakers do not extend it in new legislation.