The White House aims to give political appointees more power over research funding

NPR | By Katia Riddle

Published July 13, 2026 at 4:52 PM EDT

Under Trump, the Office of Management and Budget has proposed a rule change that would shift authority for grant making to political appointees. Experts say it could negatively affect U.S. science.

Katia Riddle

Katia Riddle is a correspondent at NPR covering mental health. She has reported extensively on the impact of events such as Hurricane Helene, Los Angeles wildfires and the loneliness epidemic. Prior to her current role, she covered public health including reproductive rights and homelessness. She won a 2024 Gracie Award for a series on reproductive rights.

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The White House aims to give political appointees more power over research funding

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