On May 29th, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) released a proposed rule that would significantly alter how the government handles the management of grants and other forms of financial assistance. The proposed rule, Regulation Codifying Policies on Federal Financial Assistance, Revisions to 2 CFR (91 Fed. Reg. 32198) would give political appointees greater control over the grant selection process, expand the authority of the government to terminate active grants if they do not align with Administration priorities, and place significant restrictions on the use of federal funds to cover conference attendance and publishing costs. A more detailed overview of the proposed rule is available here.

ASCE has sent a letter to OMB Director Russell Vought seeking an extension of the comment deadline, currently July 13, 2026. In the letter, ASCE noted the sweeping nature of the proposed rule and the need for organizations and individuals affected by the rule to review its full impact and prepare comments accordingly. ASCE is working to draft comments on the impact the rule will have on ASCE’s ability to advance the practice of civil engineering and protect the public health and safety.

ASCE has issued a Key Alert urging members to provide comments on the proposed rule.

Originally published by ASCE Government Relations.