The Trump administration is trying to give political appointees sweeping new control over more than $1 trillion in annual federal grants.

The Office of Management and Budget has proposed an overhaul of the rules governing grants to nonprofits, state and local governments, universities, researchers, and other institutions. These grants help fund housing, health care, education, food assistance, shelter, infrastructure, public safety, disaster recovery, scientific research, and other essential services.

Under the proposal, federal agencies could judge grants according to the president’s political priorities instead of objective criteria, community needs, and congressional intent. Agencies could withhold funding indefinitely in some circumstances, suspend or terminate grants, or change their terms after work has begun.

Grantees could face sudden financial and legal risks without a meaningful appeals process. Organizations providing essential services may be unable to accept those risks, disrupting programs that communities depend on.

Congress has the power to stop this. Lawmakers must secure a bipartisan provision in legislation moving this year that blocks OMB from finalizing or implementing this regulation or any similar proposal.

Click “Start Writing” to tell your representative and senators to stop political interference in federal grantmaking.