ASAM Comment on OMB Proposal to Revise Federal Grant Rules

On July 13, the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) submitted a public comment to the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in response to its proposed rule that would significantly alter Uniform Guidance governing federal grants, many of which are used to fund scientific research. 

"ASAM shares OMB’s stated goals of improving accountability, preventing waste, and ensuring that federal dollars are used effectively," writes ASAM. "Our concern is that several provisions of the proposed rule may unintentionally have the opposite effect for addiction research, treatment, and other public health programs. Rather than reducing waste, fraud, and abuse, the rule is poised to increase costs to taxpayers by making federal grants less stable, adding new layers of review, interrupting ongoing projects and infrastructure, and reducing the return on investments already made."

To support efforts to enhance the strength, rigor, and transparency of grantmaking for the benefit of the American public, ASAM outlined several recommendations. These include:

1. Prioritizing federal investment in high-quality research and programs that maximize public benefit;
2. Protecting taxpayer investments;
3. Increasing access to funding opportunities and reduce recipient burden; and
4. Strengthening safeguards to ensure transparent, accountable, and well managed federal grantmaking.

ASAM's detailed list of recommendations can be found in its comment letter here.