More data, less clarity: Why federal research oversight needs to change
Eugene Mymrin/Getty Images
ByXueying (Shirley) Han
June 23, 2026 04:45 PM ET
COMMENTARY | Most federal research oversight still follows a familiar model.
Federal agencies are being asked tougher questions about research than ever before, not only what they are funding, but also whether the work is reliable and actually delivering results.
Funding organizations are also under pressure to maintain confidence in those outcomes at a time when trust in research is under strain. Verifying findings is often difficult, costly and time-consuming because paper mills and low-quality publications are more common.
Self-citation can make weak work appear stronger than it is. Global collaboration adds another layer of complexity, making it harder to see who is involved and how work is connected.
It is no longer realistic to check everything manually. Decisionmakers have access to data, but not a clear view of what is happening across their portfolios.
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