Trump proposes putting political goals above objective criteria in deciding who gets government grants, from childcare to research to public safety

Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought's agency is behind this drive to shake up federal grantmaking. Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images

The federal government provides grants – any amount of money that the recipient doesn’t have to pay back – for a wide array of purposes that serve the public interest. States, local governments, colleges and universities, students, nonprofits and other kinds of organizations receive these funds.

Huge sums are involved.