The Trump federal grants proposal is triggering alarm across the US research community after the White House unveiled a sweeping plan that could give political appointees far greater influence over how more than $1.1 trillion (£810 billion) in federal grants is awarded.
At the heart of the debate is a simple but consequential question: who should decide which taxpayer-funded research moves forward? For decades, that responsibility has largely rested with independent experts. Under the proposal, critics say political officials would gain significantly more authority over funding decisions, raising fears that politics could begin shaping scientific priorities.
