Governor Healey Opposes Trump Proposal to Politicize Federal Grant Funding

Governor Healey Opposes Trump Proposal to Politicize Federal Grant Funding 

BOSTON — Governor Healey today submitted formal comments to Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought opposing President Trump’s proposed revisions to the Uniform Guidance, the federal framework that governs how billions of dollars in grants and financial assistance are awarded each year. 

Governor Healey warned that the proposal would fundamentally change how federal grants are awarded by allowing political appointees to play a greater role in funding decisions that have historically been guided by independent experts and rigorous peer review. She urged the Trump Administration to abandon the proposal, arguing that it would undermine evidence-based decision-making and threaten scientific research, innovation and economic growth. 

"For decades, federal investments guided by scientists, technical experts and independent peer-review panels have helped make America the global leader in research, innovation and discovery," said Governor Healey. "Those investments have produced lifesaving medical breakthroughs, strengthened our economy and fueled innovation across every corner of our country. President Trump's proposal would replace expertise with politics, creating uncertainty for researchers, institutions and businesses while putting future scientific and economic progress at risk." 

“The federal government’s historic commitment to objective, expert-led funding has led to transformative breakthroughs such as the internet, advanced manufacturing, and domestic biotechnology that have built robust economic ecosystems around research universities,” said Quentin Palfrey, Director of Federal Funds & Infrastructure. “By altering this blueprint, Trump’s proposed rule has the potential to drive away private investment, stall new business growth, and compromise America’s global competitive advantage in this space. We urge the federal government to reconsider the implications of this proposal.” 

Governor Healey's letter focuses on the proposal to establish a new "pre-issuance review" process that would allow senior political appointees to override the recommendations of scientific experts and independent peer-review panels. She warned that the change could disrupt federal investments in scientific research, public health, public safety, infrastructure and other critical priorities by replacing objective decision-making with political considerations. 

Massachusetts is home to one of the nation's leading research and innovation economies, supporting more than 81,000 jobs, generating $7.8 billion in annual income and contributing approximately $16 billion in economic activity. 

Since taking office, Governor Healey has made strengthening Massachusetts' research and innovation economy a top priority. In 2025, she launched the Discovery, Research and Innovation for a Vibrant Economy (DRIVE) Initiative to expand investments in research, accelerate innovation and maintain Massachusetts' global leadership in science and technology. 

Since taking office in 2023, the Healey-Driscoll Administration has secured more than $9 billion in federal grant funding to support transportation improvements, economic development, clean energy, broadband expansion and other critical investments that strengthen communities across Massachusetts.