Trump administration proposes political review of all research grant proposals

The US president, Donald Trump, wants senior political appointees to conduct a pre-issuance review of all grant proposals submitted to federal agencies.The new policy was revealed in a 412 page proposal put forth by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).1 Appointees conducting the reviews would be obligated to ensure that any discretionary awards were consistent with the national interest and “advance the President's policy priorities,” said the proposal, issued on 29 May.The document adds, however, that the peer review process for grant approvals will still be needed, although it caveats this by detailing how political appointees must use it to rubber stamp grants.It reads, “Nothing in this part must be construed to discourage or prevent the use of peer review methods to evaluate proposals for discretionary awards or otherwise inform agency decision making, provided that peer review recommendations remain advisory and are not ministerially ratified, routinely deferred to, or...