A New Trump Rule Threatens Research Behind Every American Industry

BusinessEnergyA New Trump Rule Threatens Research Behind Every American IndustryByKelly Fleming ,Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Energy, Climate, and Transportation Technology and PolicyFollow AuthorJun 11, 2026, 01:18pm EDTA 412-Page Federal Rule Could Reshape American Science Forever. The Comment Period Closes in July 13, 2026.1950: A radiochemist at the Argonne National Laboratory working with radioactive materials. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images)Getty ImagesThe US scientific enterprise has been the most successful generator of technology advancement, intellectual property, and GDP in history. The internet, smartphones, vaccines, Google, semiconductors, artificial intelligence, fracking, batteries, and SpaceX are just some examples of technologies resulting from federally funded research and development. The success of these programs has been built on decades of experience to ensure that federal agencies operate independently of political agendas and financial conflicts of interest. On May 26, 2026, the Trump Administration announced a proposed rule that would fundamentally restructure how federal research dollars are awarded.The rule proposes that senior political appointees review federally funded research results, instead of using the peer review system, where multiple outside experts review the scientific methodology, results, and conclusions for potential errors or conflicts. Further, the rule bans any collaboration with foreign researchers and stops all federal funding to publish scientific results for public transparency. The rulemaking has a 45 day open comment period, half the time that is typically given. This is not a change that impacts federal scientists, this would fundamentally change the way that science is conducted in the US. Such a rule risks surrendering American leadership in science and innovation in combination with cutting research funding and removing the US from participating in global e...