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Politics
Jun 22, 2026
Analyzed by Llama- 4 Scout 17B 16E Instruct

Scientists Fight Back Against Planned Trump Research Cuts

AI Summary
Scientists are fighting against a proposed Trump administration rule that would give political appointees control over federal research grants, potentially dismantling the US science ecosystem. The rule, proposed by the Office of Management and Budget, has sparked concerns that it would allow the president to dictate research priorities and stifle scientific inquiry.

The Lead

Colette Delawalla, founder of Stand Up for Science, is leading a fight against a proposed Trump administration rule that would give political appointees control over federal research grants. The rule, proposed by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on May 29, would require that discretionary awards 'demonstrably advance the president's policy priorities' and prohibit anything that 'promotes anti-American values.'

The Event Details

The proposed rule would place all research and other federal grants under the control of political appointees, rather than scientific or subject-matter experts. This has sparked concerns that the president would be able to dictate research priorities and stifle scientific inquiry. Delawalla, a clinical psychologist and researcher at Atlanta's Emory University, believes that the rule would create a '$1.5tn slush fund' under Trump's control.

The Data Analysis

According to Stand Up for Science, nearly half of the 10,000 National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded clinical trials analyzed could be discontinued under the new rule. This includes:

  • Over 1,000 cancer-related trials
  • Hundreds of pediatric studies
  • Hundreds of trials each studying veterans, suicide, heart disease, and diabetes

The Impact Analysis

The proposed rule has sparked widespread concern among scientists and politicians. Delawalla met with over 30 members of Congress, including Maryland Democratic senator Chris Van Hollen, to sound the alarm on the OMB proposal. The organization's tactics include urging members of the public to post comments on the rule by the federal government's July 13 deadline.

The Prediction

Delawalla and her organization are exploring legal responses should the rule go through. With the help of attorneys and members of the public, they aim to prevent the proposed rule from dismantling the US science ecosystem. As Delawalla puts it, 'We're advocating for democracy... If you tell people in a country they're not allowed to study certain things with federal money, you're not in a free country.'