Senate Moves to Block Threat to Surgical Research

Earlier this week, the US Senate passed a temporary spending bill that will fund the federal government through December 11. Significantly for surgeons, health and science professionals, and patients, the continuing resolution included language blocking the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) proposed rule that would radically change, and likely harm, federally funded, independent scientific research in the US.

Some of the provisions include mandatory federal agency review of the merit of all grant proposals, making peer review nonbinding and unnecessary for assessing the scientific merit of a grant, providing political appointees with the power to suspend or terminate any grant at any time, and more. Taken together, the provisions would significantly affect a surgeon-scientist’s ability to secure funding for and conduct important research and could affect trillions of dollars in federal spending.

The ACS has strongly opposed the OMB proposed rule, submitting detailed official comments describing the myriad ways the rule would disrupt, weaken, and even end practice-changing and lifesaving surgical research. This development shows that legislators are listening to their constituents—and that the ACS is playing a leading role in fighting against this damaging proposed rule.

The Senate language represents significant progress toward stopping this dangerous proposed rule and signals that the ACS message, and the messages from our members, were heard on Capitol Hill.

The continuing resolution passed the Senate 90-6-1 and now must be reconciled with the House of Representatives’ version of the continuing resolution, which passed last month but did not include language regarding the OMB proposed rule. Work will begin on the House version when Congress returns from its summer recess.

Your voice can still make a difference. Contact your members of the House via SurgeonsVoice and urge them to oppose this proposed rule.