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AMS Resources and Response to the Federal Science Crisis
On 29 May, 2026, the President’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) published a new proposed rule titled “Regulation for Federal Financial Assistance.” This rule would restructure federal grantmaking throughout the United States and give Executive Branch appointees significantly more authority in federal grant making decisions. For example, it would require that political appointees determine whether specific grant proposals should be funded, and give them the power to terminate existing grants that do not align with an administration’s political priorities. OMB requested comments on the proposed change by Monday, 13 July, 2026.
Many members of the AMS community responded by commenting on the record about the potential effects of this change. The rule has not yet been implemented, due to a continuing budget resolution passed by Congress which delays implementation through at least 11 December 2026. Yet this OMB rule may still be enacted, and some federal entities (including the Department of Education and the National Science Foundation) have made their own proposed rules based on this policy.
Much of the weather, water, and climate enterprise relies on federal grants, and the proposed rule changes would have major impacts across, and far beyond, our field. AMS encourages members and people in our wider community to learn more about these proposed changes, contact their legislators with their opinions, and submit comments to agency-level proposals based on OMB’s new rule.
READ THE PROPOSED RULE
Comments may be open on individual agency guidelines based wholly or partly on the OMB proposed grant guidelines. If you have a substantive contribution, AMS encourages you to comment on these proposed regulations. Recognizing the breadth of the AMS community, we have included links to agency regulations in fields outside of direct scientific research.
Comments are likely to be most effective for the AMS community if they focus on substantive issues impacting weather, water, and climate science and services, and original (do not copy someone else’s comment). Federal agencies are required to review comments that meet those criteria. You can submit more than one comment so long as the comments address different concerns or sections of the proposed rule.
Want help writing a comment?
The American Physical Society has more detailed information about the OMB rule. You can read their overview page here.
AMS provides additional advocacy guidance including how to contact your Congressional representative and engage your community.
AMS has submitted comments on behalf of the Society. We've posted our summary and full comments as a resource.
AMS was also one of 323 organizations that signed a request to extend the comment period to August 27, 2026
Please continue to check back here for more information on what we are doing and how you can contribute.
Links to read more about the proposed rule changes:
Information about NSF rule change
AIP FYI: "White House Plan to Take Over Federal Grantmaking Draws Criticism from Science Groups".
Society of Scholarly Publishers: “Guest Post — The US Government’s New Guidance for Federal Grants and The Case for Scholarly Societies”
National Council for Nonprofits: Proposed Changes to the OMB Uniform Guidance [PDF]
Executive brief from the Association of American Universities, the Association of Public & Land Grant Universities, and COGR: OMB Proposed Rule on Uniform Guidance: Immediate Considerations for Research Institutions [PDF].
Analysis from Ropes & Gray:
Click here to read and comment on the OMB Proposal (deadline 13 July, 2026)