AIP Webinar: What the Proposed OMB Uniform Guidance Means for Science

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has proposed significant updates to its Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200), the regulations dictating how federal grant funds are managed and spent by non-federal entities. In this webinar presented by AIP, policy experts detail what these sweeping changes could mean for the scientific research enterprise. The panel breaks down how the proposal may impact the merit review process through new pre-issuance reviews, alter indirect cost rate incentives, restrict international collaborations, and change how grant funds are used for professional activities, including society memberships, conference attendance, and journal publication fees. The discussion also covers the federal rulemaking process and provides actionable guidance on how members of the scientific community can effectively participate in the public comment period. Speakers: Laura Lyon, Senior Specialist, Policy and Engagement, AIP Lindsay Milliken, Director, Public Policy Research and Analysis, AIP Jacob Taylor, Senior Editor for Science Policy, AIP Mark Elsasser, Director of Public Affairs, American Physical Society (APS) Chapter Timestamps 00:00 - Welcome, Introduction to the AIP Federation, and Panelist Bios 03:40 - What is the OMB and Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200)? 06:45 - Key Provisions: Merit Review Changes, Indirect Costs, and Professional Activities 19:35 - Why the Proposal is Difficult to Evaluate: Scale, Severability, and Specificity 28:55 - The Rulemaking Process: What Happens After the Comment Period Closes? 38:15 - Real-World Impacts on the Scientific Enterprise and Grant Cancellations 44:05 - How to Engage: Crafting Original Public Comments and Using the APS Portal 56:07 - Audience Q&A: Assessing Organizational Ties and "Gold Standard Science" #SciencePolicy #FederalGrants #AIP #OMB #ScientificResearch #PhysicalSciences