Education research organizations are warning that a proposed overhaul of federal grant rules could reshape what gets studied by adding a political review layer. The reporting describes a May 29 Office of Management and Budget proposal intended to strengthen accountability and oversight, with a timeline aimed at an Oct. 1 effective date. Groups including the National Academy of Education, the American Educational Research Association (AERA), and the Knowledge Alliance argue the changes could narrow eligible research topics—particularly studies tied to “unlawful DEI” activities and “disparate impact” research—while disrupting work already underway. For higher education researchers and departments, the immediate risk is reduced scope for evidence-building that informs classroom and student-outcome interventions.