White House proposes political appointees approve all science grants, making peer review optional

The White House has announced a policy shift for federal science funding. Under the proposal, political appointees would be required to sign off on every grant. The change would reduce the role of traditional peer review in the award process. Officials say the move aims to increase oversight and align research with administration priorities. Critics argue it could politicize scientific funding and undermine expert evaluation. The proposal has sparked debate among researchers and policy analysts. No timeline for implementation has been provided in the announcement. Stakeholders will watch for congressional response and potential regulatory actions.