Statement of the American Association for Aerosol Research on the OMB Proposed Rule: Regulation for Federal Financial Assistance

June 2026

AAAR would like to bring to your attention the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) proposed rule, Regulation for Federal Financial Assistance, that was published on May 29, 2026. This proposed rule could significantly change the way research proposals are reviewed and funded and also impact the conduct of research and its dissemination. If you are interested in related news and scientific journal coverage, please check out these links: NYTimes and Science editorial. A concise summary of the impact of the proposed rules is available through this Substack Newsletter. Federal funding has been central to many of the advances made in aerosol science, and it is from this standpoint that AAAR views the potential impact of the OMB proposed rule.

AAAR strongly supports the principle that federal research awards should be made on the basis of scientific merit, as evaluated through rigorous, independent peer review. The proposed rule has the potential to significantly change the criteria for federal awards, with potential impact in the research fields of AAAR's members’ interest.

The proposed rule will impact review of proposals and international collaborations. More specifically for AAAR, the proposed rule would require prior agency approval for federally-funded scientists to attend conferences. The proposed rule would also prohibit the use of federal funds to pay article processing charges or open-access publication fees, which will have some impact on the operation of Aerosol Science and Technology.

The public comment period closes July 13, 2026, after which OMB is required by law to consider all submitted comments before issuing a final ruling. AAAR will continue to monitor developments related to this proposed rule and keep members informed as the rulemaking process unfolds.