NEW YORK (AP) — An executive order signed by President Donald Trump late Thursday aims to give political appointees power over the billions of dollars in grants awarded by federal agencies. Scientists say it threatens to undermine the process that has helped make the U.S. the world leader in research and development.

The order requires all federal agencies, including FEMA, the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health, to appoint officials responsible for reviewing federal funding opportunities and grants, so that they “are consistent with agency priorities and the national interest.”

It also requires agencies to make it so that current and future federal grants can be terminated at any time — including during the grant period itself.

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

The Trump administration said these changes are part of an effort to “strengthen oversight” and “streamline agency grantmaking.” Scientists say the order will cripple America’s scientific engine by placing control over federal research funds in the hands of people who are influenced by politics and lack relevant expertise.

  • DominusOfMegadeus@sh.itjust.works
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    5 months ago

    They assassinated John F. Kennedy, but this dunce, who is literally the worst president in U.S. history by at least 2 orders of magnitude, somehow keeps trucking along, burning the nation down as he goes.

  • Carvex
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    5 months ago

    What a fucking surprise PedoProtectorParty

    • Nastybutler
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      5 months ago

      It’s much worse than that. It’s a policy that will crater the US’s scientific community and have devastating consequences for decades as the brain drain accelerates

      • SeeMarkFly@lemmy.ml
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        5 months ago

        So…business as usual. What a shame it’s politics and not business.

  • vegeta
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    5 months ago

    “Control the coinage and the courts—let the rabble have the rest.” Thus the [Tangerine Tyrant] advised you. And he tells you: “If you want profits, you must rule.” There is truth in these words, but I ask myself: “Who are the rabble and who are the ruled?”

    -Muad’dib

    • Stamau123OP
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      5 months ago

      Also fitting is

      Deep in the human unconscious is a pervasive need for a logical universe that makes sense. But the real universe is always one step beyond logic. -from “The Sayings of Muad’Dib” by the Princess Irulan

  • DevolutionBanned from community
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    5 months ago

    He went from leaving semen in children to leaving hopelessness in children.

  • Dalkor
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    5 months ago

    Geeze! Why do them liberulls gotta make everythang so damn political!

    :(

  • snooggums
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    5 months ago

    reviewing federal funding opportunities and grants, so that they “are consistent with agency priorities and the national interest.”

    This was already a thing that was happening, but the order is worded in a way to imply that it wasn’t.

  • Ensign_Crab
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    5 months ago

    I find it odd that scientists have ever trusted the government after Waxahatchie.