The American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG) is deeply concerned by the Executive Order (EO) issued last week titled “Improving Oversight of Federal Grantmaking.” While ASHG supports efforts to ensure transparency, accountability, and scientific rigor in federally funded research, we are particularly troubled that the EO’s directives risk introducing political considerations into the grantmaking process. Requiring grant review by political appointees risks undermining the foundational principles of freedom of inquiry and scientific merit that have long guided the success of American biomedical research. Importantly, it is contrary to the funding of the most scientifically meritorious grants, a principle that has resulted in American scientific excellence and world leadership.
The EO directs federal agency heads to revise the terms of existing grant agreements and incorporate new conditions into future grants that would permit immediate termination “for convenience” at the agency’s discretion. It further restricts grantees from accessing funds for specific projects without explicit agency approval and requires justifications for each request to draw down grant funds. These changes introduce uncertainty into the grantmaking process and threaten to delay and disrupt critical research initiatives that are vital to advancing the understanding and treatment of diseases affecting millions of families. The potential for discretionary grants to be canceled at any time, regardless of scientific merit or progress, threatens to politicize the scientific funding process and destabilize the research ecosystem at a time when global competitiveness and innovation are shared national priorities.
Additionally, the EO states that the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) shall “appropriately limit the use of discretionary grant funds for costs related to facilities and administration.” As ASHG has stated previously, F&A costs are essential to maintaining the research infrastructure that enables safe, secure, ethical, and effective research. Moreover, while ASHG supports broadening access to funding opportunities across different institutions, basing funding decisions on an institution’s F&A cost calculations rather than the scientific merit of proposals risks distorting the grant review process. This approach could deprioritize impactful research and compromise the fairness and integrity of how grant proposals are evaluated.
ASHG emphasizes that the nature of fundamental scientific research is inherently unpredictable. Breakthroughs often arise from unexpected results or serendipitous findings that cross disciplinary boundaries – outcomes that cannot be forecasted or neatly aligned with predefined policy goals. A healthy research ecosystem must allow for curiosity-driven inquiry and a steadfast commitment to truth, free from political or ideological interference.
ASHG urges the Administration to reconsider these measures and to engage with the scientific community to ensure that reforms to federal grantmaking preserve the integrity of the research process, protect the independence of scientific inquiry, and maintain the United States’ global leadership in biomedical innovation. We remain committed to advocating for policies that promote robust, evidence-based science and will continue to work with policymakers, partner organizations, and our members to protect the future of human genetics research.