Allergy & Asthma Network Statement on White House Plans to Issue Executive Order on NIH Grant Funding 

Fairfax, VA — SEPT. 21, 2026 — Allergy & Asthma Network CEO Lynda Mitchell issued the following statement in response to reports that the White House intends to move forward with an Executive Order that would establish an outside panel to review research grants prior to approval: 

Allergy & Asthma Network is deeply concerned by, and strongly opposes, the prospective Executive Order (EO), which is anticipated to fundamentally alter the way funding for research studies is reviewed and approved. The White House is proposing to establish a panel of political appointees that would have the right of refusal of any research grant proposals that do not align with the Administration’s agenda, with potential disregard for scientific merit. These changes will not merely influence abstract study funding structures; they will also trigger a cascading effect of negative consequences, from hampering innovative research financing to lasting, detrimental implications for patient access, care, and clinical outcomes. 

This news comes at the heels of the White House Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) recently proposed rule introducing structural changes to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant administration policy. Following significant bipartisan pushback, this rule was halted in the Continuing Resolution passed earlier this month that funded NIH until December 11. The prospective EO sets out to circumvent both the proposed rule and the Continuing Resolution to immediately cut back on research funding.  

NIH grants are currently awarded through an objective, merit-based scientific peer-review process, ensuring that the highest-quality, most rigorous science receives funding. The new proposed changes attempt to introduce greater political oversight, administrative discretion, or subjective criteria into the final approval process. 

In the end, patients could miss out on innovative, lifesaving treatments. Researchers and healthcare providers could lose their ability to carry out their critical work. This could undermine our nation’s ability to lead scientific advancement worldwide. 

Allergy & Asthma Network strongly urges the Administration to: 

• Uphold the integrity of science- and merit-based research reviews, ensuring that experts trained in these specific scientific and clinical disciplines retain the primary authority for evaluating proposal value. 
• Provide administrative credence to scientific rigor and analysis by eliminating non-defined, politically subjective terminology from the operative text. 
• Preserve robust notice, cure, and appeal processes for any proposed termination of active federal research grants, particularly those involving human subjects. 

Without immediate consideration of patient, provider, and expert perspectives regarding this matter, this measure could negatively affect preventative medicine programs, increase healthcare costs, and compromise America’s scientific credibility worldwide. 

About Allergy & Asthma Network

Founded in 1985, Allergy & Asthma Network is the leading nonprofit outreach, education, advocacy and research organization for people living with asthma, allergies and related conditions. Our mission is simple yet profound: to advance patient-centered research and advocate for better outcomes, access to care, education, and treatments that lead to improved health and quality of life. We specialize in making medically accurate information understandable to all, promote evidence-based care, and foster collaboration among patients, clinicians, researchers, advocates and policymakers. Learn more at AllergyAsthmaNetwork.org.