The Endocrine Society continues to fight to protect research and block implementation of a proposed rule by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) that would fundamentally reshape how biomedical research, including endocrine science, is funded in the U.S.
The proposed rule would give political appointees the power to block grant awards that do not align with current administration priorities, allow federal agencies to terminate grants at any time without a formal appeals process, and impose restrictions on publication costs and international collaborations, among other disruptions.
Taken together, the proposed rule directly threatens the foundational principles of merit-based science. OMB is seeking to implement its proposed changes October 1, and the Endocrine Society is opposing the rule, calling for its withdrawal, and urging Congress to intervene.
The Society met with dozens of congressional offices since the proposal was released to share our concerns throughout the summer. A group of 50 Endocrine Society members participated in rolling Zoom calls with congressional staff during August and we brought several members to Washington, D.C., to meet in-person with their congressional delegations and congressional leadership.
These meetings were influential. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee added language in the Senate version of a short-term funding resolution to delay implementation, for which we are grateful, and many Democrats and Republicans have spoken out against the proposed rule.
