The White House Office of Management and Budget has proposed sweeping changes to the federal grant-making process. The federal government, through the agencies of the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Agriculture, the Environmental Protection Agency and many other federal agencies, awards grants to state and local governments, community organizations and researchers and scientists, among others, for critical public health interventions and research. The proposal by OMB would upend this process by allowing political appointees to make grant award decisions based on ideology. Currently, grant award decisions are considered by independent peer reviewers, scientists and policy experts. The proposal would also permit the administration to cancel, suspend, or modify grant awards at any time for any reason.

Submit your comment to OMB using APHA's editable message, and be sure to edit the comment template to explain the personal impact this proposal would have on you and your work.