Streamlining Federal Grants Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Senator Gary Peters
Introduced
Summary
Streamlined federal grants to make applying for and managing federal awards easier for communities and organizations that rarely get Federal funding. This bill would create a Grants Council, require senior grants officials at agencies, and demand plain-language, accessible grant processes.
Show full summary
- Communities and nonprofit applicants: Would get clearer, simpler funding notices with a required 500-word summary and a Grants.gov user study whose recommended changes must be implemented within 3 years.
- Federal agencies that award grants: Would have to designate a senior grants official within 60 days and develop Agency Grant Improvement Plans within 635 days of enactment.
- Accountability and oversight: A Council chaired by the Controller at the Office of Federal Financial Management would set common data standards and conflict-of-interest rules, and the Comptroller General would analyze access in 2 years and evaluate implementation in 5 years.
Your PRIA Score
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Better grants website and evaluations
If enacted, the Director and the Health and Human Services Secretary would study Grants.gov and report to Congress within one year on accessibility and user experience. The Director would implement the report's recommendations within three years, working with HHS. The Comptroller General would report to Congress within two years on challenges non‑Federal groups face applying for grants and options to improve access. The Comptroller General would also evaluate the Act's overall effectiveness and report within five years.
Simpler grant applications and plans
If enacted, the Director would issue guidance within 270 days to help agencies simplify application, administration, and reporting for grants. Notices of funding opportunity would need plain language, a funding summary of 500 words or less, training contact information, and meaningful access for people with limited English. Each agency head would then write and publish a grant improvement plan by the earlier of one year after the Director's guidance or 635 days after enactment, with a possible one‑year extension. Agencies would take public comments, hold forums when practicable, add plan goals to their performance plans, and report to the Director and Congress annually starting one year after plan submission.
New grants council and leaders
If enacted, the Director would set up a Grants Council within 80 days chaired by the Controller of the Office of Federal Financial Management. Heads of agencies would name a senior grants official within 60 days and notify the Director, and the Director would post a public list on the OMB website within 90 days. The General Services Administrator would give the Council administrative support and the Council would get regular input from non‑Federal groups. The Director could exempt an agency, part of an agency, or a specific grant program that does not run many grants, and would publish any exemption list.
Free Policy Watch
You just read the policy. Now see what it costs you.
Pick a topic. PRIA runs your household against live legislation and sends you a free personalized readout.
Pick a topic to get started
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Gary Peters
MI • D
Cosponsors
Sen. Lankford, James [R-OK]
OK • R
Sponsored 1/28/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.govTake It Personal
Get Your Personalized Policy View
Take the PRIA Score to see how policy affects your household, then upgrade to PRIA Full Coverage for year-round monitoring.
Already have an account? Sign in