U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on August 7, 2025, that overhauls the federal grantmaking process by centralizing control under his political appointees. The order mandates that grant award decisions, including billions of dollars in research funding, undergo evaluation by these appointees, replacing the previous system managed by unelected bureaucrats. The White House stated the move aims to prevent wasteful spending on frivolous grants and ensure taxpayer dollars benefit Americans. The directive has raised concerns among research advocates, who fear it could politicize scientific funding decisions and disrupt a process that has been in place for decades. Additionally, the order directs federal banking regulators to remove concepts such as reputational risk from their guidance. This executive action is part of President Trump's broader effort to bring more government outlays under his direct control.