Amid the evidence that people asking what the heck is going on inside the government can, and often does, lead to direct persecution of that individual inside the United States (we have fallen so far), and against the backdrop of a likely overwhelmed and potentially corrupted FOIA office, I decided to make a request anyway.
Ostensibly all government communications are public. So, as a US Scientist, I want to understand the reasoning behind the proposed rule change that would take $1.1 trillion in grant funding managed and distributed without evidence of corruption for decades, and sweep it under the SOLE CONTROL of the Executive Branch.
United States Science is (was?) the global leader in research and development of medicines. Nearly 100% of FDA approved therapeutics in the last few decades are associated with NIH funding. At a fraction of our overall budget, the investment in science has routinely returned $2.5 up to $8 in funds to the local economy across all 50 states. No fraud has been uncovered, no failure to return massive dividends both financially and medically to the United States public has been found. So why suddenly does the Executive Branch want complete control of our money?
Of course it’s a concentration of control and power. Something Russia tried which led to their scientists, for generations, fleeing to the United States and other countries. Ever head of Russia leading in a scientific space? Nope, me either. There’s a reason. Their government funded pseudoscience projects for decades under direct control of the Kremlin. Why are we breaking a globally recognized powerhouse system and trading it for something that has failed in the past? Why are we accelerating brain-drain? Good scientists can and are already going elsewhere to do research. Countries that have experienced brain drain take huge economic hits, for generations. Is that really what we want?
So, I’ve submitted a Freedom of Information Act requestion (FOIA) to try to understand the logic and motivations behind these changes. You can too, it’s free.
Nothing may come of it except for an attack on my research career, but hey, I think we’re already there.
Here is what I’ve submitted as a citizen curious as to why we’re fixing something that isn’t broken.
Request:
As a concerned United States citizen and scientist, I am requesting every email or hard document communication regarding the OMB proposed rule, titled “Regulation for Federal Financial Assistance,” delivered in PDF format. No public officials name, nor private citizens name shall be redacted.
Fee Waiver Request Justification:
I am a concerned citizen seeking information about what appears to be an unjustified rule change to the mechanism of distribution in over 1.1 trillion in taxpayer funds. This rule significantly alters a successful and internationally recognized system of scientific grants controlling 1.1 trillion in taxpayer funds was proposed by our government.
This rule change was proposed through a mechanism such that no legal challenge or public oversight can delay, alter, or request justification for these sweeping changes. By nearly every analysis available there has been insufficient justification for this rule change. There has been no fraudulent use of funds uncovered, and a program deemed successful is being altered in a way that significantly and permanently changes the distribution of scientific investment through grants that is meant to serve the people of the United States.
Furthermore, there are serious legal questions as to the wording of the proposed rule change wherein there are vague passages that could hinder distribution of scientific funding, crippling American science and scientific research. NIH funding alone is well known to support a $2.5 to $8 return on every $1 invested. The proposed rule change not only threatens the scientific merit of research done in the United States, but a significant driver of the United States economy.
I, as a concerned citizen and career scientist have seen no justification for the enactment of this rule and am seeking to understand the reasoning and communications that support moving $1.1 trillion dollars of taxpayer money under direct control of the Executive Branch with no clear process oversight.
After this I did add a dollar amount that I am willing to pay to get these documents in case the fee is not waved. That dollar amount has been supported by your subscriptions to this newsletter, which I deeply appreciate.
It has been reported that FOIA has been inundated with requests, particularly for the OMB and will be slow to respond. Here are the wait times on their website
They can also deny requests. But if this goes through, I will certainly report back and ensure that the entire document release is made publicly available.
Until then, please consider making a FOIA request yourself, it can add additional attention to this issue. Here is the LINK. Finally, thank you all for the public comments and supporting scientific excellence in the United States.
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