STM has expressed strong opposition to the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) proposed revisions to the Guidance for Federal Financial Assistance, warning that the changes could undermine the independent and rigorous system that supports American science.
According to STM, the United States has long been a global leader in research not only because it funds scientific work, but also because it maintains systems that ensure credibility, discoverability, and usability. These systems rely on independent review, freedom from political interference, and effective communication of findings. STM argued that the proposed revisions risk weakening these foundations by shifting decisions away from evidence-based assessment toward administrative and political judgment.
The organization noted that such changes could introduce uncertainty into processes designed to guarantee research is rigorous, transparent, and trustworthy. Researchers, STM emphasized, need assurance that their work will be evaluated without bias and that projects can be completed without fear of political interference or arbitrary termination.
STM also highlighted concerns that restrictions on publication and dissemination could limit the reach and impact of federally funded research. The group stressed that research achieves value only when findings are validated, communicated, and made accessible. This accessibility enables clinicians to inform patient care, innovators to identify new technologies, policymakers to make evidence-based decisions, and the public to benefit from the research it funds. Funding for publication and subscriptions, STM added, is essential to ensure research delivers public value and supports continued scientific progress.
The statement further warned that the proposed changes could jeopardize American scientific leadership internationally. Modern science depends on the free exchange of ideas and collaboration across borders, and restrictions could isolate U.S. researchers and slow the pace of progress.
STM concluded that the OMB’s proposal would introduce bias and instability into a system that depends on objectivity, which it described as incompatible with trustworthy scientific research. The organization urged reconsideration of the revisions to safeguard the systems that underpin credible and independent research.
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