The NIH proposed on September 1, 2026, to replace numerical peer review scores with three categories - most competitive, competitive, and not discussed - and to stop releasing scores to applicants and staff. The comment period runs to October 13. Reporting has since added an OMB effort to draft an executive order giving the president final say on NIH funding decisions, after the administration backed off a political oversight order when Susan Collins complained publicly. The steepest drop in NIH funding fell on health disparities and race- or ethnicity-related research. Collins and Patty Murray are now working on a proposal to push back on White House involvement in medical grant making.