1. United States
2. La.
3. Letter

The actions taken by the administration to restrict language usage in grant proposals and potentially deny funding based on certain terminology is a concerning overreach that undermines scientific integrity and violates the First Amendment. Implementing an explicit list of "prohibited" words that encompass topics and populations central to research across numerous fields exhibits a troubling disregard for free academic inquiry and free speech protections under the Constitution. This policy poses a threat to constitutional free speech protections and obstructs the ability of subject matter experts to pursue important avenues of study. Rigorous peer review by qualified scientific professionals should remain the standard for evaluating grant proposals, not ideological litmus tests dictated by political motivations. Excluding critical terms like "diversity," "gender," "ethnicity," "woman," and "black" from proposals makes it virtually impossible to properly contextualize research problems and justify work addressing societal needs and disparities. Scientific progress relies on unfettered exploration of evidence, unimpeded by arbitrary censorship. I urge reconsideration of these counterproductive language restrictions that impair researchers' capacities to accurately frame their proposals and violate First Amendment free speech rights. Empowering subject matter experts, not silencing them through obstructive policies, is vital for advancing science and medicine to benefit all Americans. Scientific freedom and constitutional principles must be upheld over partisan agendas attempting to suppress open discourse.