AABB Urges OMB to Withdraw Proposed Federal Financial Assistance Rule

AABB urged the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to withdraw its proposed rule governing federal financial assistance, warning that the changes could undermine biomedical research, delay scientific innovation, compromise national security, weaken preparedness, and reduce patient access to care.

The proposed rule, published May 29, would make sweeping revisions to the Uniform Guidance, the federal framework governing grants and other financial assistance.

In comments to OMB Director Russell Vought, AABB affirmed its support for responsible stewardship of taxpayer funds and transparency in federal grantmaking but cautioned that the proposal would weaken the biomedical research enterprise underpinning advances in transfusion medicine, blood safety and biotherapies.

Specifically, AABB raised concerns that the proposal would replace independent scientific peer review with mandatory political review of discretionary research grants, expand agencies' authority to suspend or terminate awards without clearly defined standards, and impose broad restrictions on international scientific collaborations. The association also warned that the proposal would limit support for publications, scientific meetings, professional society participation and access to scientific literature, impeding scientific collaboration and slowing the translation of research into clinical practice.

AABB emphasized that federally funded research has contributed to advances in blood safety, pathogen reduction technologies, trauma care, cell and gene therapies, emergency preparedness and blood supply resilience. Growing uncertainty surrounding federal research funding could delay clinical trials, discourage long-term investment in biomedical research and slow the development of life-saving therapies.

The association also asked OMB to extend the public comment period from 45 days to at least 90 days, noting that the proposed revisions represent one of the most significant changes to the federal financial assistance framework since the Uniform Guidance was established in 2013.

Rather than finalizing the rule, AABB encouraged OMB to work with the biomedical research community to develop reforms that strengthen accountability while preserving scientific integrity, operational stability and public trust in the federal research enterprise.