Comment on FR Doc # 2026-12725 from Clarissa Kripke

G8.Authorities Advancing the president's priorities must have no role in scientific peer review to preserve academic freedom and integrity. Scientists and academics should provide peer review and politics should not drive science or the science agenda. "Agency discretion" is allowing poor quality science to receive public support and I oppose that. Peer Review Although the GFA Summary of Changes states that “no significant changes are made to Proposal Processing and Merit Review,” the proposed revisions to 2 CFR 200.205 are highly relevant. They provide that senior agency appointees must apply specific principles when evaluating proposals, including ensuring that discretionary awards advance the President’s policy priorities. The GFA also cites 2 CFR Part 200, which states that peer review remains advisory and does not replace agency discretion. Because 2 CFR Part 200 supersedes the GFA, this provision could significantly alter the balance between scientific peer review and political discretion in funding decisions. --------------- G25.A.Term 2 I do not support granting broader discretion to suspend or terminate awards as this creates politicized science and wastes taxpayer money on projects that are not completed. This is a bad idea. Congress, not agencies decide funding. Suspension and Termination of Awards Guide 25 aligns NSF’s termination provisions with the proposed revisions to 2 CFR Part 200, granting agencies broader discretionary authority to suspend or terminate awards. Under these provisions, recipients must accept these terms as a condition of receiving an award. ------------------- G12.A.Term 1 Conference attendance, publication costs and costs of dissemination of research paid for with public funds should not be limited or require approval. Publication Costs and Conference Attendance The proposed GFA incorporates changes from 2 CFR 200.432 (Conferences) and 2 CFR 200.461 (Publication and Printing Costs). Under these provisions: • Conference attendance would be allowable only if expressly approved by the agency. • Publication costs are characterized as not inherently necessary to carry out the core programmatic objectives of most federal awards. These changes could substantially affect the dissemination of federally funded research and participation in scientific conferences. Access Repository (PAR) at or before the time of publication. If you wish to comment on this issue, please begin your comment with: [G21.B.Policies 2a]