OMB memo pausing federal grants causes chaos

Abstract

Last week a memo from the federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB) released January 27 late in the day created chaos across the country. Although a judge stopped the order, which was due to take effect at 5:00 pm on January 28, temporarily, a full hearing will be held February 3. The White House is still defending its action, which would affect the SUPTRS block grant, research grantees, and all not for profits receiving grants. The news blackout from the federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) continued (see ADAW https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/adaw.34392). We were not able to get comments from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), which funds the SUPTRS block grant, or NIDA or NIAAA.