1. United States
2. S.C.
3. Letter

I am writing to ask you to protect American innovation from political interference. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) recently proposed a sweeping new rule that would give political appointees—not independent scientists—the final say over which research gets funded and what researchers are allowed to say. For generations, America’s global leadership has relied on a simple, proven framework: we fund the best science based on merit, not the most politically convenient science. Whether it is discovering life-saving medical treatments or driving technological breakthroughs, we need objective, independent facts. This proposed rule is a bureaucratic power grab that replaces expert peer review with a political loyalty test. It allows appointees to veto or abruptly cancel grants simply because the research doesn't fit a specific political narrative. This should deeply concern every American, regardless of party: - It wastes our tax dollars: We should fund research based on potential breakthroughs and return on investment. Allowing budget analysts to override peer-reviewed science means taxpayers get worse results for their money. - It weaponizes government bureaucracy: Giving political appointees the power to censor findings or pull funding mid-project sets a dangerous precedent. It allows whoever holds the White House to control what facts the public is allowed to know. - It kills American innovation: If scientists are afraid to pursue critical topics or speak freely for fear of losing their funding to ideological shifts, we will lose the next generation of discoveries to global competitors. This rule change is arbitrary and capricious. It dismantles a system that works and replaces it with centralized political control. I urge you to use your oversight authority to challenge this OMB rule and to co-sponsor and pass the Scientific Integrity Act. Please ensure that our nation’s research stays focused on evidence, discovery, and fiscal responsibility—not political trends.