Education research organizations warned that a proposed OMB overhaul of federal grant rules could reshape what gets studied by adding a new review by political appointees. The proposal, described as a 100-page change to grant issuance and oversight, would revise rules covering the Department of Education and the National Science Foundation. Groups including the National Academy of Education, the American Educational Research Association (AERA), and Knowledge Alliance submitted letters asking OMB to withdraw the overhaul, arguing provisions could narrow research questions, elevate political considerations, and disrupt ongoing projects. One central objection targets research into whether educational outcomes differ among student groups. The proposed rule would restrict support for certain activities framed as “unlawful diversity, equity and inclusion” and limit “disparate impact studies.” For universities with education research programs, the issue is pipeline risk: the rule could alter future funding eligibility and scientific scope.