Politics
House passes stopgap spending bill restricting political oversight of science grants
The short-term funding measure prevents the Office of Management and Budget from giving political appointees broad authority to cancel research grants.
The short version
- The U.S. House approved a stopgap spending bill to fund the government through early December, adopting a version previously passed by the Senate.
- The legislation includes a provision preventing the Office of Management and Budget from enacting rules that would allow political appointees to direct science funding and terminate grants at will.
- The measure heads to President Trump, who is widely expected to sign it to avert a pre-midterm government shutdown.
Key facts
- The House of Representatives passed a stopgap funding bill to keep the federal government open through early December by adopting the Senate's version.[Ars Technica]
- Internal disagreement within the House Republican caucus prevented the chamber from passing its own funding legislation.[Ars Technica]
- The bill includes language barring the Office of Management and Budget from implementing rules that would permit political appointees to control scientific funding decisions and cancel awards at any time.[Ars Technica]
- The legislation requires the signature of President Trump before taking effect.[Ars Technica]
What remains uncertain
- Whether President Trump will sign the legislation without delay ahead of the midterm elections remains pending official executive action.[Ars Technica]