An Ascendant Constitutional Theory Is a Threat to American Science
12 hours ago
- #unitary executive
- #political control
- #science funding
- A new OMB rule would shift control of science funding from scientists to political appointees, allowing them to decide and cancel grants.
- This is part of a broader push for presidential control, supported by the unitary-executive theory and Project 2025.
- The unitary-executive theory asserts that the president holds all federal executive power and can direct all executive-branch actions.
- Recent Supreme Court decisions align with this theory, increasing presidential power over agencies and officials.
- Historically, science agencies have been accountable to Congress and the scientific community, relying on peer review and external expertise.
- Centralizing control in political appointees risks ignoring collective scientific expertise and favoring politically appealing projects.
- Low funding rates, not peer review, are the main barrier to high-risk, innovative science.
- The scientific community is protesting the rule, but reversing the trend requires a broader vision for governance and agency independence.