The Council on Governmental Relations (COGR), representing 190 major research universities and affiliates responsible for over 95% of federally funded research, submitted a transition document to President-elect Trump in December 2016. The letter and accompanying report express significant concern over the escalating regulatory and administrative burdens associated with federal research funding. COGR cites documented evidence that researchers now spend as much as 42% of their time meeting compliance requirements, reducing productivity and increasing costs, which are increasingly absorbed by universities. The organization criticizes the rulemaking process for a lack of meaningful stakeholder engagement, as exemplified by the controversial revisions to the “Common Rule” governing human subjects research. Despite widespread opposition from the research community, expert committees, and national organizations, COGR notes that federal agencies have not sufficiently revised proposed regulations, contributing to inefficiency and overregulation.
COGR advocates for enhanced coordination and oversight mechanisms to address these issues, including the establishment of a Research Policy Board—recently legislated in the 21st Century Cures Act—to facilitate dialogue and harmonize regulatory requirements between federal agencies and the research community. The council emphasizes the need for a principal federal official to unify research enterprise oversight, a recommendation not yet enacted in recent legislation. Other concerns highlighted include the harmonization of export control laws and federally mandated data storage requirements, which suffer from inconsistent standards and increasing administrative burdens. In summary, COGR calls for a more efficient, standardized, and consultative regulatory framework to support the sustainability and productivity of the nation’s academic research enterprise while maintaining appropriate oversight and accountability.
