Oppose NSF's Proposed Guidance on Financial Assistance

Share your feedback about the proposed, updated NSF Guidance on Financial Assistance. Public comments provide an opportunity to influence this policy before it is finalized. Specific, substantive feedback has the greatest impact. You can personalize your comment by editing the letter below. Providing concrete examples and data to demonstrate how the new policies will negatively impact science and scientists is highly encouraged.

The comment period will close on Aug. 24, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET.

Dear Ms. Plimpton:

I strongly oppose NSF’s proposed Guidance on Financial Assistance because it incorporates damaging provisions from OMB’s proposed Uniform Guidance.

As detailed in the American Physical Society’s public comment (https://www.aps.org/about/news/2026/07/revisions-federal-guidance-financial-assistance), OMB’s proposed updates to its Uniform Guidance threaten the integrity and future of U.S. science. It undermines merit-review for grants by inserting political appointees into the process and destabilizes the research landscape with the risk of sudden grant cancellation. Furthermore, it jeopardizes U.S. leadership in R&D by restricting international collaboration, professional and publication expenses, and programs that broaden participation in STEM.

I urge NSF to pause implementation of this proposed policy change, increase the transparency of its revision process, and advocate for deep consultation with the scientific community to protect American leadership in discovery science.

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