Tell OMB How Proposed Federal Grantmaking Changes Could Harm Education Research

The White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has proposed sweeping changes to federal grantmaking regulations that could significantly affect federally funded education research.

Published in the Federal Register on May 29, 2026, the proposed rule would revise the government-wide "Uniform Guidance" that governs how federal agencies award and manage grants. OMB has stated that the proposal is intended to implement recent Executive Orders and align grantmaking practices across federal agencies.

The public comment period is open through July 13, 2026.

AERA is submitting comments and working with a range of scholarly societies and coalitions on coordinated letters and other strategic actions. Individual member input will strengthen this collective effort and amplify its impact.

AERA encourages members to review the proposal and submit comments describing how the changes would affect education research, researchers, institutions, students, and the public.

Why This Matters

The proposed rule could have substantial implications for:

• The independence and integrity of scientific merit review
• The types of research questions that can be pursued with federal support
• International research collaborations
• The stability of ongoing research projects
• Research dissemination and scholarly exchange
• Public access to federally funded research findings

Key Provisions of the Proposed Rule

Among other changes, the proposal would:

• Expand Political Review of Grant Proposals
  The rule would require additional review of grant proposals by senior political appointees before awards are made.
   
• Require Alignment With "Gold Standard Science" Principles
  Applicants would be required to demonstrate alignment with the administration's "Gold Standard Science" principles as part of the grantmaking process.
   
• Restrict Certain Areas of Research
  The proposal would prohibit the use of federal funds for studies characterized under the rule as "disparate-impact studies" and would impose restrictions on diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) activities supported through federal grants.
   
• Expand Authority to Terminate Grants
  Federal agencies would have broader authority to terminate grants if they determine that projects no longer align with agency priorities or the national interest at the time of termination.
   
• Limit Opportunities for Appeal
  The proposal would narrow opportunities for grant recipients to appeal certain termination decisions.
   
• Restrict Research Dissemination Activities
  Grant recipients would be required to obtain advance approval before using federal funds to attend conferences for dissemination purposes.
   
• Limit Public Access Costs
  The proposal would prohibit the use of federal grant funds for article processing charges and other expenses associated with providing public access to federally funded research findings.

Additional details on the specific proposed updates are included in a Section-by-Section summary.

Questions To Consider in Your Comment

AERA encourages members to draw on their own expertise and experience. Comments are often most effective when they provide specific examples, evidence, and descriptions of likely impacts.

Consider addressing questions such as:

• How would the proposed political review process affect the integrity, independence, or efficiency of federal research funding?
• How might restrictions on certain lines of inquiry affect education research and evidence generation?
• What would expanded grant termination authority mean for ongoing research projects, research planning, or institutional capacity?
• How would limitations on conference participation affect dissemination and scholarly exchange?
• What impact would restrictions on publication and open-access costs have on the accessibility and transparency of federally funded research?
• How might the proposed rule affect graduate students, early-career scholars, research partnerships, and research infrastructure?

Submit a Comment

Comments may be submitted through Regulations.gov until July 13, 2026.

AERA encourages all members to make their voices heard on this important proposal.