PRIA Logo™
119-s-3709119th CongressWALLET

Streamlining Federal Grants Act of 2026

Sponsored By: Senator Peters, Gary C. [D-MI]

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.

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

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.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Peters, Gary C. [D-MI]

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.gov
Back to Legislation