Trump Order Would Give Political Appointees Power over Science Funding Decisions

image via New Scientist

August 12, 2025, 5:30 PM

• •Trump's executive order centralizes power over US research grants, potentially upending peer-review.
• •Political appointees, not scientists, could control grants from funding calls to final review.
• •The order prioritizes institutions aligned with Trump's 'gold-standard science' and restricts grants promoting certain ideologies.
• •Scientists and policy specialists express alarm, fearing the order undermines open inquiry and could lead to political interference in research.

President Donald Trump issued an executive order that would give political appointees control over US research grants, shifting power away from career civil servants and scientists. The order mandates agencies to prioritize grants aligned with the administration's policy priorities and 'gold-standard science,' while restricting funding for projects that promote certain ideologies. Scientists and policy specialists have widely criticized the move, with concerns that the order undermines the established peer-review process and could lead to political interference in research funding decisions. The changes could halt new funding opportunities until new review processes are implemented.

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