How the Trump Administration's New Policy Could Destroy the Future of Science

What's Happening?

The White House's Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has proposed a new rule in May that would give them the final say in giving out federal research grants. This marks a shift from grants being evaluated from scientific peer review, where other scientists are judging a grant's merit. The proposed rule will enable the OMB to terminate clinical trials as they see fit. The OMB states that this rule serves as an effort to combat “wokeness” in science and reduce international collaboration. As a member from the Trump Administration states, “The Trump Administration will ensure funding goes toward real science instead of promoting a far-left DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion agenda) initiative.”

Why is this a problem?

These clinical trials that are in risk of termination feature potential new treatments that could improve the lives of many. If this proposal gets approved, now instead of qualified scientists deciding which trials warrant merit, the decision of which grants are terminated will rest in the hands of unqualified government officials rather than other scientists. Furthermore, the umbrella of which trials are considered “woke” is very subjective to the government's whims. PEN American has compiled a list of 350+ words and phrases that are being flagged for review by federal agencies. Phrases such as “safe drinking water” and “vulnerable populations” were found on the list, showing how the government is modifying the definition of woke to enable suppression.

How does this affect the Bay Area?

Using the ClinicalTrials.gov public API, we scanned 590 recruiting trials in the Bay Area (San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley, Fremont, San Jose, Palo Alto, Stanford, San Mateo, Walnut Creek, and Concord). Each trial was referenced against PEN America's list of 350+ flagged words and phrases, and screened for any mention of international collaboration. We also checked for potential mistakes in flagging, such as “transfusion” being flagged due to starting with the banned word “trans,” even though it has a completely different meaning. Of the 590 trials scanned, 328, or 55.6%, contained at least one flagged term or mention of international involvement. Though this metric doesn't mean that 55.6% of Bay Area trials will be terminated automatically, it still shows how a large part of the Bay Area's clinical research is at risk. If the proposed OMB rules take effect in October 2026, a large portion of the Bay Area's active clinical research could face termination, putting thousands of local trial participants at risk.

What can you do to help?

The federal government has a public comment system that allows anyone to weigh in on proposed rules before they are finalized. By submitting a comment on this proposal, you are directly making your voice heard on an issue that could affect thousands of patients and researchers. Comments close on July 13th, so if you care about this issue, submit yours using this link. You can also learn more about local clinical trials in the Bay Area and find opportunities to get involved through the trial finder tool on our website at theprismproject.blog.