Space Policy Edition: A proposal to stifle American science episode artwork

EPISODE · Jun 5, 2026 · 52 MIN

Space Policy Edition: A proposal to stifle American science

from Planetary Radio: Space Exploration, Astronomy and Science · host The Planetary Society

The White House's Office of Management and Budget has released a sweeping 400-page proposed rule change that would fundamentally alter how the U.S. federal government manages grants, affecting everything from NASA research to biomedical science and community programs. In this episode, Casey Dreier is joined by Liz Ginexi, a former Program Officer at the U.S. National Institutes of Health, to break down what these changes would mean for American science. Among the most significant proposals: replacing merit-based peer review with partisan political review, allowing grants to be terminated at any time without justification, and restricting scientists' ability to publish their work and attend conferences. Together, Casey and Liz explain how a document dressed up in procedural language could centralize unprecedented control over U.S. scientific funding under a single White House office. Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/political-control-over-scientific-grantsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Casey Dreier is joined by Liz Ginexi, a former Program Officer at the U.S. National Institutes of Health, to break down a 400-page proposed rule change from the U.S. Office of Management and Budget that could fundamentally reshape how the federal government manages scientific grants.

NOW PLAYING

Space Policy Edition: A proposal to stifle American science

0:00 52:04

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Planetary Radio: Space Exploration, Astronomy and Science?

This episode is 52 minutes long.

When was this Planetary Radio: Space Exploration, Astronomy and Science episode published?

This episode was published on June 5, 2026.

What is this episode about?

The White House's Office of Management and Budget has released a sweeping 400-page proposed rule change that would fundamentally alter how the U.S. federal government manages grants, affecting everything from NASA research to biomedical science and...

Can I download this Planetary Radio: Space Exploration, Astronomy and Science episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.
URL copied to clipboard!