A rule proposed by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) at the end of May threatens to undermine American innovation in biomedical research. The most sweeping overhaul of federal grant regulations since 2013, the proposed rule would change the grantmaking process in the following ways:

• Political pre-approval of every discretionary grant.
• Publication costs are no longer automatically allowable.
• Conference attendance requires pre-approval.
• New hurdles for foreign collaborations.

The ACR appreciates Congress for providing $48.7billion in funding for the Institutes of Health (NIH) through the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2026 (H.R. 7148), but OMB’s proposed rule will risk new discoveries in the future. The NIH research accelerates treatment breakthroughs, creates jobs and grows local economies in communities across the country, and has kept the U.S. leading biomedical innovation.

For every $1 of NIH funding, more than $2 in local economic growth is generated through research in all 50 states and D.C. being conducted by more than 400,000 scientists in 2,400 research institutions. Rheumatic diseases alone generate $140 billion in medical costs each year, with an additional estimated $164 billion in lost wages and productivity. This combined $304 billion (about $940 per person) is greater than the total appropriated to NIH for all biomedical research.

Biomedical research has led to life-changing treatments for rheumatic disease patients. Biologics and biosimilars-novel therapies developed with living cells-have revolutionized rheumatic disease intervention and treatment. Importantly, the basic and translational research that made these therapies possible can be traced back to NIH research.

Congress needs to hear from the rheumatology community about threats to biomedical research! Sending a letter via the Legislative Action Center allows you to act in just a few clicks. Take moment to contact your lawmaker today!