The December 2025 NCURA Magazine article discusses the federal “Defend the Spend” initiative, which, through recent executive orders, imposes extensive new reporting and justification requirements on recipients of federal research funding. The authors argue that these mandates significantly increase administrative burden without improving oversight or efficiency, duplicating established risk-based controls and audit processes prescribed in federal Uniform Guidance. The article highlights substantial redundancy and calls for the adoption of existing risk assessment frameworks and stakeholder engagement to ensure efficient, targeted oversight, rather than imposing broad, inefficient compliance obligations.
Authored By:
- Krystal Toups, Director, Contracts & Grants Administration, COGR
- Cindy Hope, Director, Costing & Financial Compliance, COGR
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