On August 2, 2026, US senators introduced a bipartisan temporary spending bill aimed at keeping the federal government funded. The bill also included a provision that would pause earlier proposed changes to how federal research grants are reviewed, awarded, and managed.
On May 29, 2026, the Trump administration’s Office of Management and Budget proposed a new package of rules for how federal grants, cooperative agreements, and other forms of assistance are managed. The administration explains that these changes would support national priorities.
In contrast, researchers and patient organizations are worried about the effect of the proposal on science and research. The cancer research community has spoken out against the proposal. The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network is strongly opposed to the changes. Lisa Lacasse, president of ACS CAN, mentioned in her statement:
“Protecting the integrity of federal cancer research funding is essential to ensuring that lifesaving investments remain guided by science, not politics.”
Usually, cancer research depends heavily on federal grants. Scientists apply for funding through agencies such as the National Institutes of Health and the National Cancer Institute. The applications normally undergo peer review by independent scientists from the respective field. This process helps identify which studies are scientifically strong and most likely to benefit patients.
Under the proposed changes, expert peer-review panels would still evaluate grant applications, but their recommendations would not make the final decision. Senior government officials would have more authority to approve or reject funding based on whether a project matches the administration’s priorities. Federal agencies could also have greater power to pause or cancel grants that had already been awarded.
The provision follows concerns raised by lawmakers from both parties. Senate Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Susan Collins said:
“I advocated for significant changes to the proposed rule in a July 6 letter to the agency, citing its potential to politicize grants and harm small, rural communities, families, and biomedical research.”
Senator Patty Murray, Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, also welcomed the provision following the release of the spending bill on August 2, saying:
“This bill blocks implementation of OMB’s corrupt new grants rule for the duration of the CR. The proposed rule would systematically politicize federal funding and allow Trump officials to cancel grants at any time for any reason. Enabling this rule would only give Trump the greenlight to take even more federal funding hostage.”
This does not mean the proposal has been permanently stopped. The provision still needs to remain in the final legislation approved by Congress.
For now, however, researchers and patient advocates see the Senate’s move as an important step toward protecting a system in which cancer research funding is guided by scientific merit, expert review and patient needs.
E. Anders Kolb, President and CEO of Blood Cancer United, shared on LinkedIn:
“Encouraging news today for patients, researchers and everyone who believes medical progress should be guided by science.”
Read more about the Trump administration’s research funding policies on OncoDaily:
Trump’s 2027 Budget Targets Major Cuts to Science Funding
