NEW YORK – President Donald Trump signed an executive order late Thursday aiming to give political appointees authority over the allocation of billions in federal agency grants. Scientists warn this could hinder the process that has established the U.S. as a leader in research and development.

The order mandates all federal agencies, such as FEMA, the National Science Foundation, and the National Institutes of Health, to designate officials who will review federal funding opportunities and grants to ensure they “align with agency priorities and the national interest.”

It also mandates that agencies make it possible for federal grants, both current and future, to be terminated at any time, even during the grant period.

Agencies cannot announce new funding opportunities until the new protocols are in place, according to the order.

The Trump administration stated these changes are intended to “enhance oversight” and “simplify agency grantmaking.” However, scientists argue that the order will weaken America’s scientific capabilities by transferring control of federal research funds to individuals influenced by politics and lacking necessary expertise.

“This makes political control a factor in what used to be a politically neutral system for science funding in the U.S.,” stated Joseph Bak-Coleman, a researcher at the University of Washington studying group decision-making.

These modifications will slow down grant review and approval, hindering “progress for cures and treatments desperately needed by patients and families nationwide,” the Association of American Medical Colleges commented in a statement.

The administration has already terminated thousands of research grants at agencies like the NSF and NIH, including on topics like transgender health, vaccine hesitancy, misinformation and diversity, equity and inclusion.

The order could affect emergency relief grants doled out by FEMA, public safety initiatives funded by the Department of Justice and public health efforts supported by the Centers for Disease Control. Experts say the order is likely to be challenged in court.

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