Trump Signs Order to Tighten His Control Over Federal Grants

President Donald Trump signed an order to overhaul the federal grantmaking process, the latest step in his drive to bring more of the government’s outlays under his administration’s control.

“Going forward, President Trump’s appointees will review funding opportunity announcements and grant awards to verify that each grant dollar benefits Americans instead of lining grantees’ pocketbooks or furthering causes that damage America,” the White House said in a fact sheet.

The order specified that “discretionary awards must, where applicable, demonstrably advance the President’s policy priorities.” Anything deemed to “promote anti-American values” by Trump’s appointees would be blocked.

It will put ...