Voice support for federal grants
Did you know that NH receives approximately $3.7 billion annually in federal grants? We see the good they do even if we don’t realize it was grant money: a bridge gets repaired, a rural hospital stays open, kids get fed at school, a volunteer fire department gets new equipment, a lake get tested for dangerous bacteria, a town gets flood recovery assistance, a food pantry keeps its shelves stocked, or a school is able to provide services that local property taxes can’t cover.
The federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has proposed changing how federal grants are awarded and managed. Today, applications are evaluated by experts who know the subject. Under the proposal, a senior political appointee would review grants before they are awarded to determine whether they “align with the President’s priorities.” This is not well defined and the political reviewers can deny a grant even if the subject matter experts recommend funding it. The proposal would also allow the termination of grants at any time in the grant cycle – which is terribly disruptive.
Opposing this rule change by July 13th is one way to reduce political influence from Washington in the Granite State.
These grants aren’t about “someone else.” We all benefit from them. Most of us know someone who has received addiction treatment, a family whose children rely on school meals or special education services, or a neighbor who has turned to a local food pantry in difficult times. Every one of us depends on safe roads and bridges, clean drinking water, healthy lakes, and emergency services.
All NH residents will be affected by this change, which could put important funding for New Hampshire communities at greater risk of political influence. If you’re concerned, please submit a public comment before July 13, 2026, at regulations.gov/document/OMB-2026-0034-0001 by clicking the blue “Comment” box at the top of the page. Please reference the section number; political review is presented in section §200.205 and grant termination is in section §200.340. Real examples from New Hampshire communities are powerful. Please help.