On May 29, 2026, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), published a proposed rule that overhauls government-wide administrative requirements and cost principles for federal grants, cooperative agreements, and financial assistance.

The proposed rule, which would become effective on October 1, 2026, would shift past non-binding "guidance" into strict, binding federal regulations. Major provisions of the proposed rule include:

• Political Oversight Over Grants: Requires grant applications to be reviewed by senior political appointees to ensure alignment with presidential priorities with traditional peer-review processes will be relegated to advisory status.
• Ideological & Policy Prohibitions: Bans the use of federal funds for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) activities, gender ideology, abortion-related services, voter registration drives, and political advocacy.
• Research & Foreign Collaboration: Restricts federal funding—including indirect costs—for collaborations with entities affiliated with "covered foreign countries" (nations under broad national security sanctions or classified as foreign adversaries).
• Expanded Termination Powers: Broadens the authority of federal agencies to suspend or terminate grant awards mid-stream if recipients fail to comply with the new requirements, including E-Verify participation.
• Indirect Cost Changes: Restricts the recovery of indirect costs by foreign organizations and limits them on training grants. It also advises agencies to give preference in discretionary funding to institutions with lower indirect cost rates.

For updated information on the rule please visit OCGR's SharePoint site. UMass Chan leadership will be submitting comments on behalf of the Medical School. Members of the UMass Chan community wishing to comment on the proposed rule should consult OCGR guidance.

The Advocacy in Action series, a monthly discussion forum developed in response to medical students and future healthcare professionals seeking a deeper understanding of the political and socioeconomic forces that shape who gets care, how they receive it, and what stands in the way, recently hosted Congressman Jim McGovern. 

More than forty UMass Chan students spent a Monday evening with Congressman Jim McGovern via Zoom to discuss major topics of concern in Washington, including pending changes to Medicaid and Medicare, SNAP benefits, immigration and physician shortages. Congressman McGovern provided an overview of recent action on a number of issues and insight on how medical students and physicians can best advocate on behalf of their patients and their families. 

Sasha Hussain, a first-year student in the PURCH track, said of the event “It was a valuable opportunity to learn more about what advocacy can look like for us as future physicians, both in our day-to-day interactions with patients and in broader conversations with policymakers. We discussed how issues like SNAP benefits and other federal policies directly affect constituents and patients, which was a helpful reminder that health is shaped by much more than what happens in the clinic.”

Riley Brook, a fist year medical student commented “Congressman McGovern spoke candidly about the challenges ahead, but he also left us with hope. He reminded us that our voices matter and that advocacy is an essential part of healthcare. Learning to listen, speak up, and advocate for our patients is part of the responsibility we carry as future healthcare professionals." 

The Congressman stressed the importance and impact that individual stories can have on elected officials and their staff, pointing out that interactions with patients are often very powerful. He also encouraged students to seek connections with legislators and staff in other states to enhance their impact beyond Massachusetts.

by Pat Sargent

"On Sunday, May 31, in front of a capacity crowd on the campus green of UMass Chan Medical School, 270 degrees were conferred to graduates of the T.H. Chan School of Medicine, Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing and Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences.

Chancellor Michael F. Collins, presiding over Commencement exercises for the twentieth and final time, celebrated the Class of 2026 and the institution he has served since 2007. Chancellor Collins is the longest serving chancellor in the history of the University of Massachusetts system. He will conclude this role at the end of this academic year.

Collins opened his remarks by informing the graduates and their families that he had originally intended to focus his Commencement address on artificial intelligence, or AI. Instead, he pivoted, flipping the AI abbreviation around and encouraging the future physicians, scientists and nurses to live their lives inspired by IA, or 'inspired altruism.'"