Comment on OMB-2026-0034-0001
East Bay Pediatric Journal CLubOpposeOther
Summary: A group of pediatricians opposes the proposed regulation, arguing that it allows partisan politics to interfere with scientific research funding and priorities. They advocate for research decisions to be made by medical and scientific experts rather than political entities.
As pediatricians who have a long history of caring for children with special needs, we are appalled at the attempt to have partisan politics play a role in scientific research. It is essential that medical and scientific experts decide our country's research needs, and decide grant applications worthy of funding. Partisan politics should play no role in establishing priorities for research funding. No established funding should be terminated other than for cause, such as failing to perform the research protocol. It is also essential that scientific collaborations between appropriate foreign entities continue without interference to allow the establishment of robust research protocols. New investigators should not be discouraged by the possibility of funding being terminated due to political whim. This regulation needs to be re-written to exclude political interference in scientific research funding or performance.