The document presents remarks by Lisa Nichols on behalf of the Council on Governmental Relations (COGR) to a National Academies panel focused on reforming regulation and reporting requirements affecting research institutions. Representing over 190 prominent research universities and institutes, COGR expresses concern regarding the escalating complexity and lack of standardization in federal regulations, policies, and reporting requirements governing research activities. The organization highlights the burden imposed by frequent regulatory changes, agency deviations from policies such as the Uniform Guidance, and the significant costs—both in administrative effort and direct financial terms—resulting from compliance. Specific examples, including the substantial annual time and monetary costs associated with Public Health Services financial conflict of interest requirements, illustrate the disproportionate compliance impact on institutions.
The remarks also address challenges related to federal audits and the influential role of Offices of Inspectors General in shaping or impeding regulatory reforms, notably in the area of effort reporting and payroll certification. COGR calls for a more centralized, systematic approach to regulatory review and reform, potentially overseen by the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), to ensure consistent standards and reduce unnecessary administrative burdens. The organization advocates for more inclusive, timely stakeholder engagement in developing new policies and stresses the need for regulatory mechanisms tailored to the unique contexts of research funding agencies. COGR, in collaboration with partner organizations, is actively engaging with relevant federal officials and agencies to promote reform and is supporting initiatives—including a proposed study by the Administrative Conference of the United States—aimed at achieving greater regulatory efficiency in research administration. The overall objective is to enable a greater proportion of research funding to be directed towards productive scientific activity rather than compliance, enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of the national research enterprise.
