Comment on OMB-2026-0034-0001

The Society of Vertebrate Paleontology (SVP) and the Paleontological Society (PS) object strongly to the May 29, 2026 proposal by the White House OMB that proposes sweeping changes to U.S. federal grant regulations. SVP and PS comprise a total of over 3000 members respectively, representing the largest number of professional and avocational paleontologists in the world. We would like to point out the following: 1–SVP AND THE PS CHALLENGE THE OMB TO EXPLAIN HOW POLITICAL APPOINTEES CAN ASSESS THE REMARKABLE DIVERSITY OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH IN A MANNER MORE RESPONSIBLE THAN EXPERTS IN THOSE SCIENTIFIC FIELDS OF STUDY. That the evaluations of qualified and specialized subject matter experts could be overridden by political appointees with no scientific training literally removes the science from federally funded scientific grants and contracts. Holding scientists and their research hostage to political whim narrows dramatically the types of science that can be funded, and endangers literally hundreds of currently supported members of our societies with the threat of arbitrary termination. Federal scientific grant funding generally returns between $2.45 and $2.60 for every dollar granted (https://www.unitedformedicalresearch.org/annual-economic-report/). Political as opposed to scientific oversight threatens to destroy this enormous economic impact. The return on the approximately $200 billion spent annually in research and development – over half a trillion dollars – in now subject to the whims of political appointees, doing potentially incalculable catastrophic damage. The newly proposed OMB policies falsely masquerade as protections in order to advance a narrowly defined political agenda, notably one that future administrations with differing agendas could similarly weaponize. SVP AND PS ADVOCATE STRONGLY FOR AN ENTIRELY APOLITICAL APPROACH TO FEDERAL GRANT FUNDING, AND WE REQUEST THAT THE OMB EXPLAIN HOW BOTH THESE CURRENT AND FUTURE CONCERNS WOULD BE ADDRESSED. 2–Federally funded paleontological research overlaps significantly with the search for petroleum and extractive mineral resources. If a researcher, their institution, or any other aspect is arbitrarily deemed unaligned with administration priorities, this collaborative, mutually beneficial relationship is threatened. Many of our members have already had their employment terminated for simply doing their jobs as scientists. That same threat to looms over federal grants. That strategy will undoubtedly backfire and damage deeply the United States’ scientific reputation and will undoubtedly interfere with international collaborations that might benefit American industrial interests. 3 – The unanticipated impacts go far beyond the immediate research. Given that paleontology is arguable the most popular of all sciences (who doesn’t love dinosaurs and all other fossils?), it is important to note that paleontologists are at the forefront of childhood education. Further, more paleontologists teach in healthcare education such as medical, dental, veterinary, and nursing schools (as well as all allied health sciences) than any other scientific specialty. Removing the means by which these educators support their professions will have a profound impact not only on K-12 education, but also the training of an entire generation of future healthcare professionals. WILL THE OMB EXPLAIN HOW THESE POTENTIAL NEGATIVE EDUCATIONAL IMPACTS WILL BE AVOIDED? Or, are educational impacts from K-12 through the postgraduate healthcare industry of no concern? 4-The United States has been for centuries a global icon in paleontological investigations, and the proposed new regulations would not only erode that position, but ignore the fact that paleontological research addresses conditions and times that span political boundaries and predate the vagaries of individual administrations. These regulations threaten to dismantle the United States’ preeminent global position in paleontology specifically, and science in general. On the world stage, China, the European Union and others will collaborate to surpass American’s scientific reputation in paleontological research, and its contribution to American economic security in terms of mineral extraction and petroleum exploration. We call on the OMB and Congress to hear the voices of those very scientists they purport to represent and regulate, and not only via online comment. WE CHALLENGE THE OMB AND OUR CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVES TO INVITE US AS SCIENTISTS TO TESTIFY IN PERSON SO THAT THEY MAY UNDERSTAND THE TREMENDOUS IMPACT WE PROVIDE FOR THE COUNTRY, AND SHOW THE COURAGE TO HEAR FOR THEMSELVES THE IMPACT OF CHANGES TO TITLE 2, PART 200 OF THE CFR ON US. Stuart Sumida President, Society of Vertebrate Paleontology Kristi Curry Rogers Vice President, Society of Vertebrate Paleontology Margaret Lewis Past President, Society of Vertebrate Paleontology Rowan Lockwood President, Paleontological Society