Guidance to make federally funded research freely available without delay (whitehouse.gov)

Article summary

The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy has issued guidance to make federally funded research freely available without delay, ending the optional 12-month embargo period. This move aims to increase public access to research funded by federal agencies. The policy is set to be fully implemented by December 31, 2025. The guidance has sparked discussion about the potential impact on the research community and the journal publishing industry.

Main themes

• open access research
• federally funded research
• journal publishing industry
• public access to knowledge
• research funding
• academic publishing reform

What commenters say

• Making federally funded research freely available is a positive step towards increasing public access to knowledge.
• The move may lead to increased author fees for open access publications, potentially creating a barrier for some researchers.
• The journal publishing industry, particularly companies like Elsevier, may face significant changes due to the new policy.
• Some argue that the three-year transition period is unnecessary and that the policy could be implemented more quickly.
• The policy may have a significant impact on society-level journals that rely on publication fees to support their activities.
• There are concerns that the policy may be reversed by a future administration, highlighting the need for a more permanent solution.
• The move is seen as a win for open access and a step towards reducing the influence of for-profit publishers in the research community.