The Trump administration on Monday ordered a freeze on all federal grants and loans, leaving researchers scrambling as universities halted spending and review panels were canceled. While the order was rescinded the following day, confusion remains about which federal grants and loans may remain frozen.
Max Kozlov and Dan Garisto report for Nature.
In short:
- A January 27 order from the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) ordered all federal agencies to "pause" federal financial assistance, affecting research grants and loans.
- Universities advised faculty to stop spending grant funds, while agencies like the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation canceled review meetings, delaying critical research.
- A federal judge temporarily blocked the order, but scientists fear lasting damage to the U.S. research ecosystem.
- Although the administration rescinded the OMB order on Tuesday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt posted on X that "the President's EO's on federal funding remain in full force and effect," creating confusion about which grants and loans remain frozen.
Key quote:
“If somehow they are allowed to get away with this, the disruption is almost incalculable.”
— John Holdren, former White House science adviser to President Obama
Why this matters:
Science relies on stable funding, and sudden financial freezes disrupt ongoing research, delay breakthroughs and threaten jobs. Early-career scientists are especially vulnerable, as funding uncertainty may derail their work. If political interference in funding decisions becomes the norm, long-term scientific progress could suffer.
Read more: NIH freeze jeopardizes critical scientific research
