New Grant Rules Put Recipients Under the Microscope

On December 26, OMB published new guidance designed to "streamline" the Federal government's guidance on Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal grants, an effort led by the cross-agency Council on Financial Assistance Reform and OMB. The new guidance is intended in part to "strengthen oversight over Federal funds to reduce risks of waste, fraud, and abuse" and "increase the efficiency and effectiveness of Federal awards to ensure best use of the more than $500 billion expended annually," an effort which is likely to mean increased government scrutiny over institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations, and other grant recipients.