Guidebook: President Donald J. Trump Sets Boundaries on Federal Grants for Unauthorized Political Advocacy
In a bid to ensure accountability in Federal spending, President Donald J. Trump signed a Presidential Memorandum on increasing the integrity of Federal grantmaking. This move is part of the Administration's ongoing efforts to streamline the Federal government and stop wasteful spending.
The Memorandum directs the Attorney General to investigate whether Federal grant funds are being illegally used for lobbying activities. The focus is on enhancing the integrity of Federal grantmaking processes, and the goal is to prevent Federal grant funds from being diverted to support political or lobbying activities.
The Memorandum does not specify which grant programs are under investigation, but it does mention the U.S. National Science Foundation's grant on advancing racial justice in elementary mathematics as an example. The Memorandum also aims to ensure funding to Nongovernmental Organizations (NGOs) advances U.S. interests.
President Trump's Administration has been cracking down on waste, fraud, and abuse in the Federal government since his first day in office. As part of this initiative, the President launched a 10-to-1 deregulation initiative, ensuring every new rule is justified by clear benefits.
In addition, the Administration has been promoting cost-effective commercial solutions in Federal contracts, such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding a grant to adapt an LGBTQ+ teen pregnancy prevention program for "transgender boys."
Within 180 days after the Presidential Memorandum, the Attorney General conducted investigations into the use of federal funds for lobbying activities and recommended measures to enhance transparency and ensure compliance with federal laws. The Memorandum does not provide details on potential penalties for illegal use of Federal grant funds for lobbying activities, beyond the expectation of appropriate enforcement action based on the investigation.
The Memorandum does not mention any specific individuals or organizations under investigation, beyond those implied by the funded grants. The Memorandum requires the Attorney General to report to the President within 180 days on the progress of the investigation. The Presidential Memorandum does not specify which grant programs, beyond those already mentioned, are under investigation.
The Memorandum's aim is to ensure accountability in Federal spending, including grantmaking, and to maintain the integrity of the Federal grantmaking process. This move is expected to strengthen the trust of the American people in the Federal government's spending and grantmaking decisions.
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