Independent U.S. Sen. Angus King of Maine, along with 10 Democratic senators, sent a letter to the director of the Office of Management and Budget urging the Trump administration to drop a proposed rule that would give political leaders authority over research grants. The letter, dated July 21, 2026, argues the rule could politicize scientific funding.
The proposed rule, first reported by The Washington Post on July 20, 2026, would allow political appointees at agencies like the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation to have final say on grant decisions, bypassing peer review. King and the senators say this undermines scientific integrity.
King stated, 'Peer review is the gold standard for ensuring taxpayer dollars fund the best science, not the most politically connected.' The senators requested the administration withdraw the rule within 30 days.
The White House has not publicly responded to the letter as of July 22, 2026. The rule is still in a public comment period.
