The White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has proposed sweeping changes to the rules that govern federal financial assistance, including research grants. Public comments on the proposed rule are due by July 13, 2026, and comments must be submitted through Regulations.gov under docket OMB-2026-0034. Read on to learn what is at stake, how members of the American Sociological Association (ASA), as well as the broader public, should weigh in, and how to submit an effective comment.
“Anyone who cares about how federal research and public-serving grants are awarded should take the time to comment,” said ASA Executive Director Heather M. Washington. “At the core of these rule changes is the question of whether federal funding decisions should be grounded in expertise, evidence, statutory purpose, and fair process. A system that can be reshaped around political priorities every time administrations change creates instability across the scientific enterprise and beyond. ASA members, researchers, institutions, and members of the public all have a stake in this debate.”
What is OMB?
The Office of Management and Budget is the White House office that shapes how the federal government manages budgets, regulations, and administrative rules. Its decisions can have major downstream effects on how federal agencies operate and what kinds of work they are permitted to fund. The proposed changes could alter how research and other federally supported activities are reviewed and, ultimately, whether and how they are funded. If implemented, the proposed changes will result in the termination of funding for current research and activities that are supported by federal funds. This concern is not just about one administration or one set of political appointees. The implications are broader: these changes would create a system in which science funding priorities can swing with shifting political agendas rather than with scientific merit, statutory purpose, and expert review.
Why Sociologists Should Comment
The proposed changes, if implemented, would shift decision-making power away from peer review, career experts, and statutory program goals toward political priorities. The effects would not be limited to scientists. Changes to how federal grants are awarded and terminated can affect universities, hospitals, nonprofits, professional associations, local communities, and the broader economy.
Public comments create a formal record. Agencies are required to review and respond to substantive comments, and the public docket can matter later in oversight and legal proceedings. Everyone can comment, including nonscientists. You do not need special credentials to explain why stable, merit-based federal funding matters to your community, your institution, or the public good.
Comments must be original, unique, and personal! A unique comment written in your own words is generally more useful than a copied form letter. Therefore, unlike other advocacy campaigns ASA has launched, we will not provide you with a template. What we offer here are easy step-by-step instructions (see below)!
A Step-By-Step Guide on How to Submit a Comment
- Go to Regulations.gov and open the docket for OMB-2026-0034.
- Click the button to submit a formal comment.
- At the start of your comment, identify the section number or numbers you are addressing. For example, begin with a bracketed section reference such as [200.340].
- Briefly say who you are and why you are commenting. You do not need to be a scientist or policy expert; being affected by the outcome is enough.
- Explain, in your own words, what specific provision concerns you and what harm it could cause. Do not copy a template or sample text. Duplicate comments are compiled and only count as ONE comment.
- Be concrete and personal where possible. If a change affects your research, institution, students, patients, community, or field, say how. Explain the real-world harm. The strongest comments connect a specific provision to practical consequences for people, institutions, research, or communities.
- Close by stating what you want OMB to do, such as withdrawing a provision or not finalizing the rule.
- Submit your comment before 11:59 p.m. ET on July 13, 2026.
Important: comments submitted through Regulations.gov become part of the public record. Do not include sensitive personal information, confidential business information, or anything you would not want posted publicly.
Please submit an original statement in your own voice before the July 13 deadline and encourage others to do the same!
Selected sections in the proposal that commenters may wish to reference:
- 200.202–Alignment with administration priorities
New grant programs could be required to align explicitly with current administration priorities instead of scientific need, statutory mandate, or expert advice.
- 200.204–Grant competitions can be exempted from public notice
Allows federal agency heads to bypass the standard requirement to publicly post funding opportunities on Grants.gov.
- 200.205–Political review of grants
Allows political appointees to sign off on grants and judge whether awards advance administration priorities.
- 200.218–Disparate-impact research restrictions
Under this rule, federal awards cannot subsidize disparate-impact studies, support related litigation, or shape award activities to avoid assumed disparate-impact risk.
- 200.220–Limits on international collaboration
Makes it harder to maintain legitimate international research partnerships.
- 200.300–Restrictions related to DEI and related topics
Broadens prohibitions that could chill lawful and valuable work.
- 200.340–Grant termination authority
Expands the government’s ability to terminate grants if they are considered inconsistent with program goals or agency priorities, creating uncertainty even after an award is made.
- 200.432–Conference attendance pre-approval
Attendance costs are allowable only if expressly approved by the funding agency and explicitly written into the terms and conditions of the federal award.
- 200.454–Journal subscriptions
The cost of academic, professional, or technical periodicals/journals can no longer be charged to your federal grant.
- 200.461–Impacts on publication and dissemination
Costs associated with publishing and sharing research may become harder to cover.
Additional Reading and Resources
- The entire rule change proposal can be read here.