Harvard Chan School comment on proposed changes to Uniform Guidance

To the Harvard Chan community,

As I shared at the town hall last month, the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has recently proposed extensive revisions to the Uniform Guidance—the government-wide rules for how federal research grants are awarded and overseen. These changes would alter long-standing norms by reducing the role of scientific experts in key decisions, increasing the role of political appointees, and broadening agencies’ authority to suspend or terminate grants, with important implications for our School’s research and public health mission. Public comments on the proposal closed on July 13, and the government is now reviewing feedback.

I am deeply concerned about these proposed changes and the uncertainty they could create for our faculty and researchers. In response, I have submitted a letter to OMB on behalf of the School. I am also grateful to those of you who submitted comments in your individual capacities.

You can also read the letter submitted by John H. Shaw, senior vice provost for research, on behalf of Harvard University.

Best,

Andrea

Andrea Baccarelli, MD, PhD
Dean of the Faculty