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The headlines about federal grants this week are a lot — and most of them are missing the most important detail: the OMB proposal is not a law. It is not final. It is a proposal, and you have until July 13, 2026 to weigh in on it.

In this episode, Holly breaks down what the White House Office of Management and Budget actually published on May 29th, what it would change about how federal grants are reviewed, awarded, and terminated, and,  just as importantly, what it would NOT change yet. Holly also shares two new sections in the proposal the news isn't covering, why this issue goes beyond politics, and what it means for the communities your clients serve every day.

You'll also hear why the language changes in federal grants (trigger words, DEI screening) are already in effect under earlier executive orders, and why that's a separate and current issue from the structural overhaul being proposed now.

Take Action Before July 13

#1 — Submit a Public Comment to the OMB

Go to regulations.gov and search for docket OMB-2026-0034.

Start your comment with the section number in brackets — for example [200.340] for the termination section. That formatting step makes your comment more likely to be taken seriously.

Copy and adapt this template:

[200.340]

My name is [NAME] and I work as a [grant writer / executive director / program manager] for [ORGANIZATION NAME], a nonprofit serving [COMMUNITY/POPULATION] in [CITY, STATE].

The Uniform Guidance provides the common framework governing how federal grants are applied for, awarded, and administered. The proposed overhaul could significantly disrupt the ability of nonprofits like ours to apply for and manage federal funding — funding that directly supports [housing / health services / education / disaster recovery / INSERT YOUR PROGRAM AREA] for the people and communities we serve every day.

Changes to how grants are reviewed and awarded, new authority to terminate active grants, and sweeping simultaneous changes across all federal agencies create significant uncertainty for organizations that have built programs and hired staff in good faith around existing federal commitments. If these disruptions occur, it is not nonprofits that bear the cost — it is the children, seniors, veterans, and families who rely on the services we provide.

I urge OMB to carefully consider the real-world impact of these proposed changes on nonprofits and the communities they serve before moving forward.

Submit your comment here: regulations.gov — search docket OMB-2026-0034

#2 — Email Your Member of Congress

Find your representative at house.gov or senate.gov by entering your zip code.

Copy and adapt this template:

Dear [REPRESENTATIVE'S NAME],

My name is [NAME] and I