STM has issued a response to the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) proposed revisions to U.S. federal funding regulations that affect the publication and dissemination of federally funded research.
Caroline Sutton, CEO of STM, stated that the organization was concerned by the suggestion that publishing research might not be considered central to agency goals. She emphasized that research only delivers public value when it is published and shared in formats that enable impact. Sutton noted that publication costs, which represent about 1% of total research investment, support the systems and expertise that ensure research is trusted, accessible, and usable. She cautioned that restricting such support could weaken U.S. scientific competitiveness, add bureaucracy, and undermine the independent exchange of ideas.
She further explained that limiting access to validated information would hinder researchers, who rely on the scholarly record to build on existing knowledge rather than duplicating efforts or pursuing known dead ends. Sutton added that restrictions on publication costs, combined with limits on the use of federal funds for journal subscriptions, would undermine the infrastructure that makes research discoverable and usable. She highlighted that libraries and access systems are essential for researchers, clinicians, and policymakers to engage with evidence, and weakening both publishing and access could erode the value of publicly funded science.
STM confirmed that it is continuing to engage its members to provide feedback and urged others to submit comments ahead of the July 13 deadline.
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