The average american on the street does not know how grant applications were approved before this change and they will continue to not know how grant applications are approved after this change.
Grants are important because they fuel the process by which we create highly trained scientists. It's not a day to day concern (except for the people who depend on them), in the short term, but would have longer term effects.
I understand that there are people in the US who do not think that this is important and actually would prefer fewer scientists that are more poorly trained. There is nothing more infuriating then believing the world is flat and having some egghead prove it isn't.
I know grants are important. You know grants are important. When I say “academic” I mean not immediately relevant to most ordinary people who are trying to lay their mortgage etc. That’s a different group that the MAGA cult people who believe grants are a waste of public funds.
i also think the importance of grants is a bit academic, so not a day to day concern.