A proposed overhaul of federal financial assistance rules (OMB-2026-0034) threatens to destabilize the research infrastructure that veterans depend on for lifesaving care and innovation. Leading veterans’ organizations are joining NAVREF in calling on policymakers to protect the stability, independence, and continuity of federally funded veterans’ research.
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Washington, D.C. — Leading veteran organizations are warning that a newly proposed rule could jeopardize the medical discoveries that millions of veterans rely on for better treatments, improved care, and hope.
The proposed overhaul of the federal Uniform Guidance for Federal Assistance (OMB-2026-0034-0001, RIN 0348-AB88) would significantly change how federally funded research is awarded, managed, and terminated across the federal government. Veterans’ advocates warn the changes could weaken scientific independence, disrupt long-term studies, and slow research into conditions that disproportionately affect veterans.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) operates one of the nation’s largest integrated research programs, with discoveries that have transformed medicine — from the nicotine patch and implantable pacemaker to advances in PTSD, precision oncology, and toxic exposures research. Millions of veterans depend on that research to develop the next generation of treatments; for many, federally funded research is a cornerstone of their care and participation in a clinical trial represents their best hope when existing therapies fall short.
The proposed rule would fundamentally alter how federally funded research is conducted, creating new uncertainty for veterans’ health research. By expanding political oversight, weakening the role of merit-based peer review, and broadening agencies’ authority to terminate research awards without a finding of misconduct, the proposal threatens the stability that scientific discovery depends on.
These changes could slow or discourage research in clinically urgent areas for millions of veterans — including PTSD, suicide prevention, women veterans’ health, toxic exposures, substance use disorders, reproductive health, and emerging therapies such as psychedelics. They also place long-term, multi-year studies at risk. Once interrupted, these studies cannot simply be restarted; years of scientific progress, patient participation, and taxpayer investment may be permanently lost.
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Veterans have earned more than our gratitude, and they deserve access to the very best science our nation can offer. Every breakthrough in PTSD, cancer care, traumatic brain injury, and other countless conditions began with a stable research system built on scientific merit, collaboration, and long-term investments. We can strengthen accountability without undermining the foundation that millions of veterans and their families depend on. Our nation’s veterans cannot afford delays in discovery, disruptions to lifesaving studies, or uncertainty that slows the research for better treatments. We urge policymakers to preserve a research framework that allows science to follow evidence and veterans to benefit from every possible breakthrough.
Rashi Romanoff CEO, National Association of Veterans’ Research and Education Foundations (NAVREF)
Veterans’ Organizations Respond
DAV supports efforts to strengthen accountability in federal funding. However, we are deeply concerned that this proposal could undermine the scientific independence and stability that veterans’ research depends on. Changes that diminish the role of peer review, increase uncertainty for long-term studies, or restrict collaboration risk slowing progress on critical issues such as PTSD, traumatic brain injury, toxic exposures, suicide prevention, and prosthetics. Policies that disrupt research continuity ultimately delay the development of better treatments and outcomes for service-disabled veterans. We are particularly concerned that the proposed changes could introduce instability into multi-year studies that are foundational to VA’s research mission.
Jon Retzer National Legislative Director, Disabled American Veterans (DAV)
PVA supports efforts to ensure the good stewardship of taxpayer dollars but is concerned that several provisions of the proposed rule would undermine the stability and independence of federally funded research. Expanding agency authority to terminate awards absent misconduct and reducing the role of merit-based peer review would disrupt long-term research into spinal cord injury, neurological disorders, rehabilitation, prosthetics, and other conditions that disproportionately affect veterans with catastrophic disabilities.
Health Ansley Chief Policy Officer, Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA)
We are deeply tied to research and development through the countless years fighting for toxic exposure issues and research capabilities. We are sincerely hopeful that nothing will disrupt the future capabilities of life saving research.
James L. McCormick II Executive Director of Government Affairs, Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA)
As an organization grounded in the principles of evidence-based research, the Elizabeth Dole Foundation is deeply concerned that the proposed changes could undermine the federal government’s ability to support independent, innovative initiatives that best serve the military and veteran community. The 14.3 million caregivers who hold up our nation’s wounded, ill and injured veterans depend on what that research makes possible. For these caregivers, along with the veterans and military families they care for, evidence-based policymaking is not an academic exercise — it is the foundation for improving lives. Independent research conducted through the Department of Veterans Affairs and across the federal government has led to better care, stronger support systems and smarter investments in the programs our nation’s heroes and their caregivers rely on, and we must not jeopardize those efforts.
Steve Schwab CEO, Elizabeth Dole Foundation
