Senate Republicans are backing a provision in the stopgap funding bill to delay the Trump administration’s plan to place political appointees in charge of federal grants totaling hundreds of billions of dollars. This provision represents a significant challenge to the administration, marking a rare opposition from congressional Republicans.
The government funding bill extends only until December 11, and the controversial rule may still take effect thereafter. The Office of Management and Budget proposal has faced widespread criticism from nearly all stakeholders. An analysis revealed that 95% of the nearly 500,000 comments submitted were negative. If enacted, the rule would enable awarding offices to terminate federal grants without cause. It would also convert uniform guidance into binding regulations, reducing agency flexibility.
When grant review processes are influenced by political appointees, accountability and transparency diminish,
stated Cole Donovan, director of policy at Stand Up for Science.
Susan Collins (R-Maine), Appropriations Committee Chair, expressed satisfaction with the provision’s inclusion in the spending bill. I advocated for significant adjustments to the proposed rule,
said Collins. Its potential to politicize grants risks harming small, rural communities, families, and biomedical research.
Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), who collaborated with Collins, aimed to permanently block the proposal but faced opposition from Republicans. Allowing this rule would enable Trump to hold more federal funding hostage,
stated Murray. She committed to fighting the rule and urged her Republican colleagues to oppose it.
Welcome to The Hill’s Healthcare newsletter, hosted by Nathaniel Weixel and Joseph Choi, tracking Washington’s impact on health.
Essential Reads
How policy will affect the healthcare sector in the coming weeks:
- Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. endorsed the measles vaccine on Sunday but repeated false claims about other vaccines and outbreaks during a CNN interview.
- The Human Rights Campaign announced a class-action lawsuit against the Trump administration’s ban on gender-affirming care coverage in federal workers’ health insurance plans, alleging sex discrimination violations.
- Michigan’s Department of Health reported 11,234 cyclosporiasis cases, with two recent deaths. Both individuals had significant underlying conditions possibly affected by cyclosporiasis and dehydration.
On Our Radar
Upcoming news themes and events:
- The Senate Budget Committee will hold a Tuesday hearing on the reality of Medicaid.
- The Senate Finance Subcommittee on Health Care will host a hearing on building a resilient healthcare future with biotechnology.
In Other News
Branch out with different reads:
- Trump commented U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro
choked
by dropping charges against U.S. Olympian David Hearn in the Reflecting Pool vandalism case. - Virginia hemp businesses filed a lawsuit over new THC product limits.
- Mail-order abortion pills in Missouri from out-of-state providers increased fourfold since 2023.
What We’re Reading
Health news flagged from other outlets:
- Eli Lilly will allow more patients access to an unapproved obesity drug.
- A lifeline for rural hospitals faces challenges under new legislation.
- The State Department restored some global health aid with major donations.
You’re all caught up. See you tomorrow!
Tags: government shutdown, grant funding, Patty Murray, stopgap funding bill, Susan Collins, Trump administration