Comment from Angela Yung

I am a Research Scientist at the University of Arizona Cancer Center and have worked on numerous federally funded cancer research studies, including clinical trials focused on breast and ovarian cancers that primarily affect women. I am deeply concerned about the proposed changes to the federal financial assistance regulations that would grant political appointees broad authority to terminate federally funded grants based on an administration's policies or priorities. Scientific research should be guided by rigorous peer review, scientific merit, and established ethical standards, not shifting political agendas. Protecting the independence and integrity of federally funded research should be a nonpartisan principle. Allowing political officials to override peer-reviewed funding decisions risks undermining public trust in science, discouraging innovation, and limiting the pursuit of knowledge in areas that may be politically unpopular but remain critically important to public health. The consequences for patients could be severe. Many federally funded grants support ongoing clinical trials and long-term research programs that depend on stable funding commitments. Abruptly terminating these projects could disrupt patient care, delay medical advances, waste taxpayer investments, and jeopardize years of scientific progress. I urge OMB to reject provisions that would permit political interference in peer-reviewed research funding decisions and instead preserve a system that prioritizes scientific expertise, transparency, and evidence-based decision-making.