Comment by SpicyLemonZest

> That would mean grants would be going out without close supervision by any elected officials (Congress or the President).

Right, traditionally that’s how it worked. Elected officials set the broad parameters of grantmaking, but did not closely supervise individual grants, because we didn’t want scientific researchers to feel like pleasing politicians is their job. But Trump feels that everyone should please him at all times and enjoys punishing anyone who won’t.