diff --git a/PostFundManagement.Application/Services/Grants/GrantsService.cs b/PostFundManagement.Application/Services/Grants/GrantsService.cs
index 63c8f40..8ac1c93 100644
--- a/PostFundManagement.Application/Services/Grants/GrantsService.cs
+++ b/PostFundManagement.Application/Services/Grants/GrantsService.cs
@@ -159,12 +159,7 @@ public sealed class GrantsService(IDbContextFactory<ApplicationDbContext> contex
             await using var context = await contextFactory.CreateDbContextAsync(cancellationToken);
 
             if (!await context.Projects.AnyAsync(p => p.Id == request.ProjectId, cancellationToken))
-                return Result.Fail(NotFoundError.New);
-
-            var hasApprovedAward = await context.Awards
-                .AnyAsync(a => a.ProjectId == request.ProjectId && a.Status == ApprovalStatus.Approved, cancellationToken);
-            if (!hasApprovedAward)
-                return Result.Fail(ValidationError.Create("Cannot create budget: The project's linked award is not approved or does not exist."));
+                return Result.Fail(NotFoundError.New);            
 
             var budget = new Domain.Entities.Budget
             {