Gatekeepers at Grants.gov: What DOGE’s Oversight Means for Your Funding Future
In a sweeping change to the federal grantmaking landscape, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has taken centralized control of the Grants.gov platform. This move has far-reaching implications for nonprofits, tribal governments, and agencies that depend on timely access to federal funding opportunities.
What’s changed? Effective immediately, federal users can no longer independently post new Notices of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs) to Grants.gov. All postings must first be routed through a new DOGE review system via a centralized mailbox (grantreview@hhs.gov), delaying—and in some cases, disrupting—normal posting workflows.
This added gatekeeping layer is already creating a backlog. Staff at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and other agencies report months-long delays due to increased approval requirements and complex forecasting mechanisms. The ripple effect is undeniable: less predictability, longer planning timelines, and greater strain on organizations trying to align with federal funding cycles.
The potential risk? If DOGE denies or indefinitely delays postings, billions of dollars in grant funding could stall—jeopardizing time-sensitive efforts from cancer research to critical infrastructure. With more than 5,000 NOFOs typically hosted on Grants.gov annually, even partial gridlock poses a systemic threat to the public funding ecosystem.
But not all hope is lost. Some agencies have begun rerouting their opportunity announcements through alternate channels. Key examples include:
- NIH, EERE, OCED, NSF: Often post on their own independent sites
- USDA: Uses the Federal Register
- Multiple agencies: Also post on FedConnect
So what should your organization do? Mule Deer Consulting strongly recommends proactive diversification of your grant monitoring tools and timelines. We are actively tracking these alternate platforms and guiding our clients in adjusting application strategies accordingly.
In this climate, grant management is no longer just about writing strong applications—it’s about navigating policy shifts, staying alert to system-wide disruptions, and acting with agility in uncertain terrain.
Our firm continues to monitor DOGE’s administrative reach and the downstream effects it may have on funding equity, accessibility, and scheduling. If your organization depends on federal funding, now is the time to fortify your visibility strategy and consult with a grant navigation expert.
Stay informed. Stay adaptive. Mule Deer will guide the way through the fog.
