Scientists worry finalizing ‘Schedule F’ rule will further politicize NIH grant decisions

The Trump administration is moving forward with a personnel rule that critics say will subject a broader swath of the federal workforce to political pressure, raising concerns that the change could deter accomplished scientists from joining the federal workforce and give political appointees greater influence over grant decisions. 

The scientific community is especially worried about language in the rule stating that staff involved with grantmaking can be classified as “Schedule F” workers, which could remove certain civil service protections for many National Institutes of Health program officers and grantmaking officials and make it easier for the administration to dismiss them. If such officials could be fired for “subverting Presidential directives,” as the rule states, it could fundamentally change the way that scientists think about their work. Research that could be seen as disfavored by one political party may not get done because of the fear it could be terminated with a change in administration. 

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