Senator Coons, Hickenlooper, colleagues pressure White House to reverse proposed political rule change harming American science, research, and innovation

“We cannot afford to export American innovation and American jobs because of partisan games.” WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), and 9 of their colleagues called on White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russ Vought in a new letter to reverse a proposed rule, broadly titled “Regulation for Federal Financial Assistance ,” that negatively affects how nearly all federal agencies administer grants and financial agreements. The OMB’s rule change grants the White House political control over how awards are administered, further enabling corruption, undermining U.S. scientific investments and competitiveness, and blocking funding for critical life-saving research and collaboration. “The proposed changes solidify federal grant-making as an unprecedented partisan power-grab that eliminates transparency of how taxpayer dollars are spent. This rule would derail American innovation and competitiveness at the local and national levels, kill good-paying American jobs, drive up costs for families, and halt essential projects in local communities,” wrote the senators . “Instead of supporting data-driven investments that pay dividends for the American people, this guidance facilitates partisan ideals and cronyism, leaving Americans in the dark.” The senators continued , “We share the goals of improved transparency, accountability, and oversight; clarification of regulatory structure; and reducing recipient burden–all in pursuit of continuing America’s global leadership in science and innovation. However, these regulations would act in opposition to these goals. They would undermine our country’s competitiveness, erode our scientific ecosystem, increase unwanted bureaucracy, enable corruption, and perpetuate uncertainty across our local communities. We strongly urge you to withdraw this proposed rule.” The OMB’s proposed rule change would rework how federal agencies award and administer grants and cooperative agreements. Changing how funding is administered affects the primary mechanisms through which the country funds basic research, applied science, and scientific workforce development. These agencies also fund local projects including but not limited to infrastructure, public health, resource conservation, and rural development, which have been consistent targets of the Trump Administration. The proposed rules formalize an August 7, 2025, Executive Order that directed OMB to expand political oversight over all federal awards. In addition to Senators Coons and Hickenlooper, the letter is also signed by U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Angus King (D-Maine), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.). The full letter is available here .