Susan Collins, a Republican senator from Maine, has expressed opposition to a proposal from the White House that would give political appointees control over research grants.Credit: Aaron Schwartz/Getty US senators from both sides of the political aisle released a draft spending bill on 2 August that, if passed, would temporarily halt a far-reaching and controversial proposal by the White House to overhaul federally funded science. The proposal, which states that its goal is to improve 'transparency, accountability, and oversight' of federal funds, contains provisions that would reshape US science, including putting political appointees in charge of federal grant review and restricting collaboration between US and international scientists. If finalized, the White House rule could go into effect on 1 October. The overarching goal of the latest bill from the US Senate Committee on Appropriations, which oversees federal spending, is to prevent a government shutdown. US agencies,...
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