Comment on FR Doc # 2026-12725 from John O'Donnell

I am a neuroscientist whose research on brain injury has been supported by federal grants for 16 years. OMB's recently proposed rule, Regulation for Federal Financial Assistance, has been derided as deeply corrupt and harmful to America and Americans. This new proposal from NSF is intended to force feed this corruption into our government after we widely rejected the OMB rule. NSF's proposal aims to preemptively align its grantmaking rules with OMB's corrupt Regulation for Federal Financial Assistance, conforming to requirements like all grants needing approval by political appointees, bans on international collaborations, and restricting communications and publishing. The NSF proposal creates additional institutional requirements, imposes significant economic impacts on grantees, and implements sweeping regulatory control over institutes of higher education via information collection. This attempt to regulate speech and academic freedom at independent universities is a gross overreach of NSF's authority. This is another direct threat to scientific independence, public health, and evidence-based decision-making. This rule would give unqualified political appointees the power to override transparent scientific review committees to fund pet publicity projects with no benefit to discovery or health, and to do it all secretly behind closed doors. The United States has been the wealthiest, most stable nation on the planet due to our position as the greatest scientific and technological powerhouse in history. American research provides health, safety, and $2.50 in economic output for every $1 invested. There has never been a system so unequivocally beneficial to society. Do not throw it all away for some misguided attempt at gaining political power. For the sake of the country, I sincerely urge NSF not to implement this deeply corrupt rule.