AOTA opposes OMB proposal to dramatically alter federal research funding

Senate provision would delay implementation until December 11

The Senate has included a provision in a budget resolution passed on August 8 that would prohibit the federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB) from finalizing proposed changes to the Uniform Guidance for federal assistance until no sooner than December 11. OMB's target date for implementing the proposal is October 1, although it must consider nearly 500,000 comments received with an estimated 95% opposing the proposal. The House must also approve the provision before it can be enacted.

AOTA submitted its own comments to OMB expressing opposition to specific changes to the Uniform Guidance which would tighten political oversight, restrict certain allowable costs, and formalize many of the executive orders which have been issued in the past year. The proposed changes would impact grants and funding provided across the entire federal government including funding by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) and numerous other federal agencies covering a wide array of research topics. The proposed changes would also add restrictions to how federal funds could be used by grantees.

This article was originally published on July 23, 2026