STM warns proposed US funding rule changes could undermine trusted research
The International Association of Scientific, Technical and Medical Publishers (STM) has voiced strong opposition to proposed revisions to the US Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) Guidance for Federal Financial Assistance, warning that the changes could weaken the foundations of independent scientific research in the United States.
In a statement, STM said it stands alongside library, university and research-sector organisations that have raised concerns about the proposals, arguing that they threaten the systems that underpin credible, transparent and trustworthy research.
According to STM, the United States has built its position as a global scientific leader not only through investment in research, but also through support for the independent processes that ensure research quality, discoverability and usability. The organisation argues that these processes rely on rigorous review mechanisms, freedom from political interference and the effective communication of research findings.
STM expressed concern that the proposed changes would shift decision-making away from evidence-based assessment and towards administrative and political judgement. It warned that such a move could undermine established checks and balances governing how research is evaluated, funded and disseminated.
The association also highlighted the potential impact on researchers and grant recipients, noting that uncertainty surrounding project evaluation and funding could affect long-term research planning and delivery. STM argued that researchers must be confident that their work will be assessed fairly and that projects can proceed without the risk of politically motivated intervention or termination.
A further area of concern is the proposal’s approach to publication and dissemination. STM said research achieves value only when findings are validated, communicated and made accessible to those who can use them. The organisation warned that restrictions on publication could reduce the impact of federally funded research and introduce political considerations into what it describes as an independent scientific communication system.
STM emphasised the importance of publication funding and subscriptions in ensuring that clinicians, policymakers, innovators and researchers can access and build upon the latest evidence and discoveries.
The organisation also warned that the proposed changes could have international consequences. It argued that scientific progress increasingly depends on global collaboration and the free exchange of ideas, and that restrictions on collaboration could isolate US researchers and reduce the influence and impact of American-led science.
Concluding its statement, STM said the proposals risk introducing bias and instability into a system that depends on objectivity and independence. The association urged policymakers to reconsider the revisions and maintain support for the structures that enable trusted scientific research and communication.