Opinion: Proposed federal grant rules are attempt to ‘muzzle’ science | Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health
A proposed overhaul in how federal grants are awarded is aimed at shutting down scientific research on disfavored topics such as health disparities, climate change, gender identity, and vaccines, according to Harvard Chan School’s Nancy Krieger.
A proposed overhaul in how federal grants are awarded is aimed at shutting down scientific research on disfavored topics such as health disparities, climate change, gender identity, and vaccines, according to Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health’sNancy Krieger. Krieger, professor of social epidemiology, wrote about the Office of Management and Budget’sproposed new rulesin a June 27Boston Globe op-ed. She also wrote about the rules in a June 23letter to the Lancetand was quoted about the topic in a number of other media outlets. Under the new rules, which were outlined in more than 400 pages released in late May, political appointees would have final say on which research proposals get federal funding, making peer review—which has long guided the process—advisory. In addition, Krieger wrote in the Globe, the rules “affirm the federal government’s right to terminate grants at any time, refuse to fund work that does not align ideologically with the politics of the executive branch, and impede the ability of scientists to pay for open-access publication, attend scientific conferences, and have international collaborators—all vital for scientific innovation, debate, public engagement, and progress. ”She added, “I know what this type of scientific muzzling does. In February 2025, I was among the first U. S. scientiststo have my federal research grant terminatedsolely because of the topic I was studying—how various types of discrimination harm people’s health. ”In a June 10New England Public Media article, Krieger said, “This is a power grab. This will stifle American science and ingenuity. It will stifle American scholarship. It will affect Americans’ health. It will affect the well-being of communities. It is a recipe for disaster. ”Krieger urged people tosubmit public commentsabout the proposed rule to the government before the comment period ends on July 13. Read the Boston Globe op-ed:Quiet regulation changes could censor vital researchRead the Lancet letter:Act now: oppose a new threat to US federally funded workRead the New England Public Media article:Scientists, higher ed alarmed by federal ‘power grab’ over research fundingRead a Washington Monthly article:Trump escalates war on scienceRead a Stat News article:Health equity researchers fear unseen level of scrutiny under White House proposalLast UpdatedFeatured in this article