Improving Oversight of Federal Grantmaking
Federal Agencies Directed to Tighten Oversight of Grantmaking
What it does
Agencies must designate senior appointees to review and approve discretionary grant announcements and awards to ensure consistency with agency priorities and the national interest.
Real-world impact
- Stricter review may lead to termination of existing grants for convenience.
- Requires clearer application language, reducing need for paid grant-writing help.
- Limits use of grant funds for university facilities and administration costs.
Topics
Summary
This order tightens how the federal government awards and monitors discretionary grants. Agencies that give grants must appoint senior officials to review funding notices and grant decisions, use expert reviewers, reduce redundant programs, and require clear benchmarks and plain-language applications.
The order also directs the budget office to change grant rules so awards can be ended if they no longer serve agency priorities, and to limit using grant money for university facilities and administration. It affects researchers, universities, nonprofits, grant applicants, and taxpayers.
Questions, answered
Ask questions about this executive order and its implications. Try:
- “What agencies are affected by this order?”
- “How does this order change existing policy?”
- “What are the practical implications of this order?”