Research Integrity
Research Integrity
House Appropriations Committee holds OMB Oversight Hearing
On June 30, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government held an oversight hearing on the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) with testimony from Director Russell Vought. During the hearing, several House Republicans, including Chairman David Joyce (R-OH), questioned Vought on OMB’s budget; and Vought praised the Administration’s efforts to end “fiscal futility.” Ranking Member Steny Hoyer (D-MD) Representative Glenn Ivey (D-MD) also expressed disappointment that the Committee did not hold a budget hearing before voting on the appropriations bills (see previous coverage). The line of questioning quickly turned to unreleased fiscal year (FY) 2026 appropriated funds and…
Scientific Community Responds in Force to OMB Proposed Rule
More than 340,000 public comments have been submitted in response to the proposed rule, Regulation for Federal Financial Assistance, that seeks to make major changes to the Uniform Guidance governing federal financial assistance, including federal research grants. The deadline for comments was July 13. Organizations and individuals used their comments to register deep concerns about the proposed changes and their potential impacts on the U.S. research enterprise and our diminishing global competitiveness. COSSA’s comments, which have not yet been posted officially to regulations.gov, is available here. According to the proposed rule, the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) set an implementation date of…
House Science Investigations and Oversight Subcommittee Holds Hearing on Federal Research Funds
On June 24, the House Science, Space, and Technology (SST) Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight held a hearing titled, Investigations and Oversight Subcommittee Hearing – Safeguarding Federal Research Funds: The False Claims Act’s Role in Combating Grant Fraud. Witnesses included Robert Steinau, Senior Official Performing the Duties of Inspector General, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Office of the Inspector General; Jennifer Springmann, Special Agent in Charge, National Science Foundation (NSF) Office of the Inspector General; and Brenna Jenny, Deputy Assistant Attorney General for Commercial Litigation Branch, Department of Justice (DOJ). Chairman Rich McCormick (R-GA) began the hearing by expressing concern…
Resources for Commenting on OMB Proposed Rule
As previously reported, the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued a proposed rule in late May that would make major changes to the Uniform Guidance governing federal financial assistance, including federal research grants. The rule seeks to implement proposals made by the Trump Administration through various executive orders and other actions taken since January 2025, many of great concern to the research community. Public comments are being accepted through July 13. COSSA is holding a members-only webinar on July 1 at 2:00 pm ET to provide guidance to members planning to comment. As of this writing, more than 70,000 public comments have been submitted. Many scientific…
NSF Seeks Comment on Grant Policy Revisions, Due Aug. 24
The National Science Foundation (NSF) is seeking public comment on proposed revisions to its grant policies. The changes are intended to bring NSF’s policy in line with the White House Office of Management and Budget’s sweeping proposed revisions to federal grant regulations released in late May (see related article). The draft would revise grant termination provisions, prohibit charging publication costs to awards, and eliminate references to fixed-price awards. It also clarifies that recovery of indirect costs on NSF awards is subject to the availability of funds, meaning organizations may not be able to recover their full negotiated indirect cost rates if award…
Research Community Organizing Around OMB Proposed Rule
As previously reported, the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued a proposed rule in late May that would make major changes to the Uniform Guidance governing federal financial assistance, including federal research grants. The rule seeks to implement proposals made by the Trump Administration through various executive orders and other actions taken since January 2025. Public comments will be accepted through July 13; public requests that the 45-day comment period be extended have been denied by OMB. As the research community prepares to respond, scientific and higher education groups are providing guidance to help make sense of the more than 400-page proposed…
White House Proposes Sweeping Changes to Federal Grant Rules – Comments Due July 13
At the end of May, the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued a proposed rule, Regulation for Federal Financial Assistance, that would make major changes to the Uniform Guidance governing federal financial assistance, including federal research grants. The rule would implement proposals made by the Trump Administration through various executive orders over the last year, including the Improving Oversight of Federal Grantmaking order and Restoring Gold Standard Science order, among others. Among the changes are, but not limited to: Proposed changes to the Uniform Guidance have been anticipated for several months. Still the sweeping nature of the changes, if implemented, would fundamentally alter the…
Register Now: Enhancing Scientific Integrity: Progress and Opportunities in the Social and Behavioral Sciences Workshop
On April 23-24, the National Academy of Sciences will be hosting a workshop on “Enhancing Scientific Integrity: Progress and Opportunities in the Social and Behavioral Sciences“. This virtual workshop will bring together researchers, journal editors, publishers, funders, and scientific association leaders to identify practical, forward-looking strategies for strengthening data integrity and transparency in the social and behavioral sciences. Participants will explore innovative tools and frameworks to detect and prevent errors, promote accountability, and reinforce public trust in research. Discussions will also consider how journals, institutions, and professional societies can adopt fair, sustainable practices that support scientific rigor while ensuring accessibility for…
President Trump Issues EO to Restore ‘Gold Standard in Science’
On May 23, President Trump issued an Executive Order (EO), Restoring Gold Standard Science. The EO indicates that science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) research is facing a “reproducibility crisis” which the order claims is a result of researchers’ “falsification of data” and the Federal Agencies publication of “highly misleading” research. The EO also took aim at diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies that “further politicized science,” aligning with previous EO’s dismantling similar policies (see previous COSSA coverage). The Trump Administration has tasked the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) to issue guidance for agencies on the…
House Oversight Probes Biden-Harris Administration’s Scientific Integrity Committees
On November 14, House Committee on Oversight and Accountability Chairman James Comer (R-KY) announced an investigation into the Biden-Harris Administration’s scientific integrity committees, including for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Comer cited concerns of interference of the “executive agency of future presidential administrations” through the Biden-Harris Administration’s Presidential Memorandum directing the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) to develop a Task Force on Scientific Integrity and federal agencies to produce scientific integrity reports (see previous COSSA coverage here). In letters sent to the EPA and HHS, Comer requested information on the…
Request for Input: NSF Seeking Input on Research Ethics
Earlier this month, the National Science Foundation (NSF) issued a Dear Colleague Letter requesting public input into the agency’s efforts to “incorporate ethical, social, safety, and security considerations into the merit review process” as required by the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022. Section 10343 of the CHIPS Act states, “a number of emerging areas of research have potential ethical, social, safety, and security implications that might be apparent as early as the basic research stage…[T]he incorporation of ethical, social, safety, and security considerations into the research design and review process for Federal awards may help mitigate potential harms before they happen.” The…
EPA Seeks Public Comment on Draft Scientific Integrity Policy
On January 24, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a 30-day public comment period on the draft updates to its Scientific Integrity (SI) Policy. This policy is in response to the White House’s Office of Science and Technology Policy’s (OSTP) memorandum requiring federal agencies to develop scientific integrity policies to restore trust in science (see previous COSSA coverage). The updated SI Policy will adopt a new Federal definition of scientific integrity and meaningfully strengthen several policy elements that will help ensure a culture of scientific integrity at the Agency. It will incorporate the model scientific integrity policy from the National Science and Technology Council’s A…
Lawmakers Author a Congressional Letter Addressing Foreign Influence in U.S. Research
In a notable move addressing concerns over foreign influence in federally funded research, U.S. lawmakers, including Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28) and Ranking Member Rep. Jamie Raskin (MD-08), have urged the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to scrutinize the impartiality of current investigations. This request, highlighted in a detailed letter, emphasizes the need for adopting a bias-free and nondiscriminatory attitude towards investment from foreign institutions. The spotlight falls on agencies like the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which have been actively investigating researchers with alleged foreign ties. The lawmakers’ request to the GAO includes critical questions about due…
NIH Releases RFI on Draft Scientific Integrity Policy
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has released a request for information (RFI) on the draft of their new Scientific Integrity Policy. This policy is in response to the White House’s Office of Science and Technology Policy’s (OSTP) memorandum requiring federal agencies to develop scientific integrity policies to restore trust in science (see previous COSSA coverage). NIH expects the policy to ensure that research is trustworthy and available to the public, and that their policies and programs are transparent, and evidence based. The draft policy changes include a new definition of scientific integrity; roles and responsibilities of the new positions NIH Chief Scientist and NIH…
NSF Announces the Establishment of a New Research Security and Integrity Information Sharing Analysis Organization
The National Science Foundation (NSF), via the Office of the Chief of Research Security Strategy and Policy (OCRSSP), announced the establishment of an independent Research Security and Integrity Information Sharing Analysis Organization (RSI-ISAO). This initiative aims to bolster the U.S. research community, which encompasses institutions of higher education, non-profit research institutions, and small to medium-sized for-profit organizations. Its objective is to address foreign government interference, champion security-informed decision-making, and bridge the research community with U.S. government agencies. The NSF is inviting proposals that detail an actionable strategy for the RSI-ISAO. Anyone interested in submitting a proposal is encouraged to present…
Representative Tonko Reintroduces Scientific Integrity Act
On July 25, Representative Paul Tonko (D-NY) reintroduced the Scientific Integrity Act alongside Ranking Member of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Representative Haley Stevens (D-MI), Representative Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Representative Don Beyer (D-VA), and Representative Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA). The bill was previously introduced by Representative Tonko during the 117th Congressional session (see previous COSSA coverage). Representative Tonko released a fact sheet for the bill, citing that it’s intended to improve public trust in science and prevent political or special interests from interfering with the dissemination of scientific information and formation of scientific public policy. Under the act, federal agencies that…
HHS Scientific Integrity Policy Public Comment Request Released
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has released a draft of its Scientific Integrity Policy and is inviting the public to share feedback and comments. The draft policy is in response to the Presidential Memorandum on Restoring Trust in Government Through Scientific Integrity and Evidence-based Policymaking. Its main objective is to offer agency stakeholders an opportunity to voice their opinions on the policy. HHS formulated the draft following the guidelines from the National Science and Technology Council Framework for Federal Scientific Integrity Policy and Practice. The deadline for submissions is September 1, 2023. For additional details on the draft and how to…
OSTP Releases Scientific Integrity Policy
On June 28, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) published a new Scientific Integrity Policy. As previously reported, the new policy reflects many of the recommendations raised in the 2023 interagency report, A Framework for Federal Scientific Integrity Policy and Practice. The policy strives to provide guidance to promote a continuing culture of scientific integrity and aims to ensure the integrity of all aspects of OSTP scientific activities. The new policy also establishes the expectations and procedures required to maintain scientific integrity at OSTP. Read the full report here.
OSTP Announces “Year of Open Science,” Doubles Up with Scientific Integrity Policies
On January 11, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) released a fact sheet detailing several actions aiming to advance open science and research while dubbing this year the “Year of Open Science.” The announcement comes in the wake of the recent guidance aiming to increase public access to federally funded research (see previous COSSA coverage). Some of the notable actions include developing an official definition of “open science,” requiring federal agencies to update their public access plans, and publishing a new online resource for the public to learn about engaging in open science programs. A few…
National Science and Technology Council Releases Roadmap on Information Integrity Research and Development
The White House’s National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) has released The Roadmap for Researchers on Priorities Related to Information Integrity Research and Development. The report identifies combating misinformation as a high priority target for researchers, citing the harmful nature it can have on the public. According to the roadmap, the NSTC will focus its efforts on the following areas: The roadmap is intended to guide research in understanding and combating corrupted and manipulated information while protecting freedom of expression and speech. Notably, the roadmap includes an action plan that details different actions that could be taken by different actors…