AST Engages Congress & The Administration On Threat To Biomedical Research Grants, Patients, and Clinicians – Trump Federal Funding Freeze Rescinded
On January 27, the Trump Administration’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) released a memo to all federal agencies directing a pause, beginning yesterday, January 28, at 5:00 PM (ET), for federal financial assistance that may support programs and activities impacted by any of the President’s executive orders. Under the order, federal agencies must complete a comprehensive analysis by February 10, 2025, of all federal financial assistance programs to identify any programs and activities that may be impacted by any executive orders, “… including, but not limited to, financial assistance for foreign aid, nongovernmental organizations, DEI, gender ideology, and the Green New Deal.” In addition, agencies must assign a political appointee to ensure that federal financial assistance conforms to the President’s priorities. The agencies must review currently pending federal financial assistance announcements to ensure Administration priorities are addressed, modify unpublished announcements, withdraw already published announcements, and cancel awards. Agencies must ensure oversight and initiative investigations to identify underperforming recipients. The announcement of the Trump Administration's order has been met with much confusion within the Congress and healthcare research stakeholder communities as to the full scope and breadth of the funding pause order.
We have heard concerns from several Society members regarding the Trump Administration's OMB order and fully understand the potential ramifications for all federally funded research and potentially aspects of patient care. The AST government relations team was on Capitol Hill meeting with House and Senate healthcare leadership offices this past Monday and Tuesday when the Trump Pause Order was both issued and later temporarily blocked yesterday by a federal judge in Washington, DC. Upon announcement of the order, the AST government relations team quickly shifted its Capitol Hill discussions with Republicans and Democrats to emphasize the unprecedented and potentially devastating impact on biomedical research and patient care.
The Good News: Earlier this afternoon, the Trump Administration rescinded the original OMB order seeking to freeze various federal grants, loans, and financial assistance—a dramatic reversal after days of uncertainty and confusion. The reversal, issued by the White House OMB, stated that the original memo was rescinded and directed questions about implementation to agency and department heads within the Administration.
Although the White House has rescinded the funding freeze order, the situation remains extremely fluid and could be reworked and re-issued. The AST is fully engaged and monitoring the situation closely in real-time with Congress and the Trump Administration. We will keep you informed and up to speed as this situation evolves.
Sincerely,
Jon Kobashigawa, MD
AST President
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