Stand Up for Science Celebrates Pause on Proposal to Put Politics Over Peer Review

Congress’ continuing resolution language prevents the OMB proposal from being implemented before December 11.

WASHINGTON, DC, UNITED STATES, September 2, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Stand Up for Science is celebrating another win following the House passage of the final continuing resolution bill yesterday, which will fund the federal government until December 11. The bill includes language that delays finalizing the OMB’s proposed overhaul of federal grant making rules before that date. The OMB proposal would place political appointees in charge of funding decisions, a move that Stand Up for Science and other science advocates have criticized.

In response, Dr. Colette Delawalla, Founder and CEO of Stand Up for Science, released the following statement:

“OMB’s proposal has been wildly unpopular — this pause is a critical step in the right direction, and we’re taking credit for this victory! Our activism efforts have mobilized tens of thousands or people to use their voices and their civic power to push back against this proposal and the threat it poses to our scientific ecosystem. Now, the fight continues: it’s time to revoke the rule and stop it permanently. This rule is an attempt to control who gets federal funding and we’ve got our eyes on Members of Congress who fail to push back against it.”

Stand Up for Science is encouraging the public to continue contacting their Members of Congress to urge action to Revoke the Rule.

Since OMB’s announcement of the proposed rule in late May 2026, Stand Up for Science has been sounding the alarm about the widespread impacts of the proposal and the dangerous destabilization of federal funding it introduces. The proposal received tens of thousands of public comments on the Federal Register, the vast majority of them overwhelmingly opposed. Stand Up for Science’s Action Center facilitated about 20% of all public comments on the Federal Register and helped generate tens of thousands of phone calls and emails to congressional representatives.

Delawalla is available for comment and media appearances.

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Stand Up for Science is a grassroots, Washington, D.C. based, non-profit organization mobilizing the fight for science and democracy. Stand Up for Science was formed in February 2025 in response to actions affecting federal science agencies and funding of the American scientific ecosystem. On March 7th, Stand Up For Science mobilized over 50,000 people at 170+ events across the world on its first National Day of Action. Federal scientists across multiple agencies (NIH, EPA, NASA, FEMA) have chosen Stand Up for Science as the platform to publish their open letters of concern. Stand Up For Science is a 501(c)(4) non-profit organization [EIN: 33-4154429] and donations are not tax-deductible.

Char Bowling
Stand Up for Science
media@standupforscience.net