Political Appointees

The Trump administration is centralizing and politicizing science grantmaking through a proposed Office of Management and Budget rule requiring political appointees to review NIH grants. The rule aims to ensure projects align with the President’s policy priorities and avoid facilitating initiatives that promote anti-American values, with the potential to terminate grants no longer serving the national interest.

Scientists, including Nobel laureates, oppose a proposed rule change that would grant political appointees influence over federal science grant approvals, warning it could severely harm American scientific research.

The Trump administration is proposing a rule to restrict federal funding for programs that do not support presidential policies. The rule would grant political appointees significant control over federal grants in research, education, and infrastructure.

The Trump administration has proposed a rule to limit federal funding to projects that align with presidential policies. The rule would grant political appointees significant control over federal grants in research, education, and infrastructure.

Several staff members were fired from the US office of the director of national intelligence after Bill Pulte was appointed acting director following Tulsi Gabbard's departure. CNN and ABC News reported the firings targeted political appointees linked to Gabbard and included cuts to the National Terrorism Center.

A new federal policy grants political appointees authority to determine which research receives funding and limits scientists' ability to publish their findings. The policy is described as a potential obstacle to scientific research.

Political appointees at the NIH exert significant control over scientific communication, and research on health communication faces challenges. The article highlights concerns about political interference in scientific discourse.

Proposed White House regulations could eliminate 5,000 clinical trials by granting political appointees final authority over research grants.

President Trump issued an executive order reclassifying 8,000 civil service positions, including high-level NIH officials overseeing research grants, as political appointees. Critics argue this removes federal worker protections, risking political influence over grants and destabilizing long-term research efforts.

The White House has proposed new rules granting political appointees final approval authority over research grants. The change would shift decision-making power to politically appointed officials rather than scientific experts.

The Trump administration has proposed overhauling federal grant regulations to increase political control over federally funded research. The changes would reduce the role of peer review, restrict scientists' use of funds for publishing and travel, and grant political appointees more power to terminate grants. The proposal aligns with prior executive orders and would apply government-wide if formalized.

Sen. Adam Schiff plans to introduce two bills to block the DOJ's $1.776 billion 'anti-weaponization' fund from providing payouts to President Trump, Vice President Vance, members of Congress, staff, political appointees, and senior executives. The measures aim to restrict compensation to individuals linked to Trump's allies.

A USAID whistleblower claims the agency's issues were worse than previously known, with political appointees seeking a quiet drawdown and DOGE demanding an execution. The revelations highlight internal conflicts and potential misconduct.