Defend Public Health Launches Multi-Pronged Campaign Against OMB Grant Rules

Group Will Pursue Every Avenue to Stop Politicization of Federal Funding
 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Defend Public Health has launched an all-out, multipronged campaign to block proposed new Office of Management and Budget rules for federal grants, which threaten to politicize all federal funding, from medical research to grants for bridge repairs and disaster relief. The campaign, kicked off at an emergency meeting last week, attended by close to 200 DPH members, will address every means of stopping the rules – via public comments, congressional action, or the courts if necessary.

The proposed rule, officially known as Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, OMB-2026-0034, Regulation for Federal Financial Assistance, is open for public comment until July 13.

“These rules would make critical funding that states and communities depend on – funds that come from our tax dollars – subject to the partisan, ideological whims of whatever administration is in power. To turn funds for things like schools, roads, and science into a political football is incredibly dangerous. We need every mom, barista, teacher, city worker and community member talking about these new regulations,” said DPH member Melinda Rostal, DVM, MPH, PhD, who is leading the organization’s  efforts on this issue.

“The good news,” Rostal continued, “is we have several ways to stop this disaster. The first is to deluge OMB with articulate, detailed public comments spelling out the harm this would do. No, we don’t expect Russel Vought to suddenly see the light, but creating this public record can assist in litigation, should it be necessary – and we’re already exploring that possibility. We’ve started training our members on how to file effective comments, and we’re going to keep up that effort until the deadline.

“Congress could also assert its authority over spending. The sooner members of Congress make clear that they won’t tolerate this politicization of vital funding, the better, and we’ve already begun mobilizing our members to contact their representatives.” In its first few days, the campaign generated over 1,500 emails to Congress, and it continues to grow.

DPH Coordinating Committee member and University of Arizona Professor Emerita Elizabeth Jacobs added, “As a resident of a purple state that regularly elects both Republicans and Democrats, this proposed rule terrifies me. Any administration of any party might get offended at one of our state’s leaders. Would that cause us to lose urgently needed funds, funds that our tax dollars support, for our schools or to help us recover from a disaster? That’s literally crazy. This could turn everything into a political football. This is an emergency, and we’re treating it like one.”

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Defend Public Health is a volunteer-driven network of public health researchers, healthcare workers, advocates and allies fighting to protect the health of all from the Trump administration's cruel attacks on proven, science-based public health policies. We believe that everyone has the right to what they need for a healthy life, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender or gender identity.
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