The US Office of Management and Budget (OMB) recently published a proposed rule titled “Regulation for Federal Financial Assistance.” The new OMB rule threatens to undermine the financial stability and influence of SOT by severely restricting how researchers may use federal grant funds for membership dues, conference attendance, and publications costs. These sweeping changes could jeopardize the Society’s ability to support its members and advance the field of toxicology.
Areas of Concern
Conference attendance: The proposed rule would impose strict pre-approval requirements for federally funded researchers to attend conferences, forcing scientists to predict their meeting schedules a year in advance. This process would almost certainly decrease attendance at the SOT Annual Meeting and ToxExpo, resulting in substantial revenue loss and limiting scientific exchange and networking.
Dues: By making professional society membership dues unallowable costs on federal grants (unless specifically authorized), the rule would disproportionately impact early career toxicologists and other members who rely on grant support for these costs. This could sharply decrease SOT membership and engagement, undermining the Society’s ability to foster professional development and community.
Publication revenue: The new rule imposes sweeping restrictions on publication costs. If researchers can no longer charge article processing fees to their grants, submissions to the SOT journal, Toxicological Sciences, may drop dramatically, slashing publication fee revenue and diminishing the journal’s impact, visibility, and scientific reach.
Indirect impacts on SOT mission and programs: By restricting international collaboration, the rule threatens to erode global participation in SOT events, diminishing the Society’s international leadership and stifling cross-border scientific innovation.
In summary, the new OMB rule poses a significant threat to the Society’s financial sustainability and scientific mission by restricting grant-funded participation in conferences, membership, and publications. SOT members, including Student and Postdoctoral members, are encouraged to submit comments by the July 13, 2026, deadline.
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