US President Donald Trump continues to steal the limelight. Just earlier this month, he signed an order that aims to ensure that political appointees control billions of dollars in federal grants. Not many people are happy about this decision.
Scientists are concerned that this order threatens to undermine the process that has helped make the US one of the best places for research. Federal agencies cannot announce fresh funding opportunities until the recent protocols are in place.
The order requires all agencies, including FEMA and the National Institutes of Health, to appoint officials responsible for analyzing federal funding opportunities and grants, so that “agency priorities and the national interest” are respected.
“Taking political control of a once politically neutral mechanism”
The Donald Trump administration has highlighted that these changes are necessary to “streamline agency grantmaking”. Researchers are concerned that this order is going to cripple the US’s scientific engine.
The scientific community is alarmed as the order is going to let people influenced by politics and lacking necessary expertise control federal research funds. “This is taking political control of a once politically neutral mechanism for funding science in the US,” said a scientist.
There is a huge possibility of the changes reducing the speed of progress for cures and treatments that people across the country beyond urgently need. This order comes after the administration terminated thousands of research grants at multiple agencies.
