Comment from Gerardo Cisneros

[200.205, 200.340] To Whom it May Concern: I am a scientists who also serves as Physics department head and professor of computational biophysics I am writing in my personal capacity to oppose the proposed revisions to sections 200.205 and 200.340 that would undermine the integrity of federal grant review processes and federal science agencies' ability to identify and fund impactful research. The establishment of political oversight (§ 200.205) can result in a process where a political appointee will have power over individual proposals without deferring to rigorous scientific peer review. The establishment of political litmus tests in lieu of scientific rigor can have a detrimental effect on cutting-edge, and state-of-the-art science The change to § 200.340 also Introduces contract-style "convenience terminations" allowing agencies to suspend or terminate active grants at any point if a project no longer aligns with perceived federal priorities. This will have a chilling effect on training new generations of scientists, which will result in the US loosing it's preeminent place as the science and technology leader in the world.