Senators, Science Leaders Discuss NSF Cuts
Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) hosted a press event on May 20 to discuss the impacts Trump Administration actions are having on the U.S. scientific enterprise and, in particular, the National Science Foundation (NSF). Sen. Cantwell serves as Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, which has oversight over the NSF. In her opening remarks, Cantwell noted that at the time of the event, the Administration has terminated 1,530 research grants totaling more than $1 billion. In addition, the President is seeking a 55 percent cut to NSF in the fiscal year (FY) 2026 budget.
Senator Van Hollen, who serves as Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations Subcommittee, talked about the “public good” nature of federally funded research. He mentioned MRI, Chat GPT, and Google as examples of key technologies that would not be possible without early investments by NSF. He also raised concerns about the massive cuts that have been taken to STEM education programs at NSF.
The event featured remarks by Arati Prabhakar, former Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) under the Biden Administration, former NSF Director France Cordova, and scientific leaders across academia.
Prabhakar noted the last three months have included, “senseless and self-defeating cuts to the agencies and research funding that are the heart of American leadership in the world.” She highlighted “breakthrough” technologies and innovations that have their roots in NSF funding and discussed the “vital link” between government and industry, stating that corporations simply will not invest in research the same way as the government.
Cordova, who served as NSF Director during the Obama and first Trump Administration, today serves as President of the Science Philanthropy Alliance. She highlighted NSF’s role in training the science workforce of the future and discussed the role of science philanthropy as part of the research ecosystem; she stressed that the private sector cannot make up for the cuts being made across the federal government.
Dean Chang, University of Maryland Chief Innovation Officer, spoke about the ways NSF investments have driven entrepreneurship. He noted that the “gestation period” of some of today’s most consequential innovations trace their roots back decades to NSF funding, adding, “It’s far-fetched to believe that industry would have made these same high-risk, very costly investments in research knowing it would be decades before possibly seeing their first dollar return.”
Dr. Marvi Matos Rodriguez discussed her pathway to a career in science, particularly as a participant in NSF’s Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program and the need to invest in the U.S. science workforce. Dr. Ananth Kalyanaraman of Washington State University discussed the use of artificial intelligence in agricultural innovation.
A recording of the event is available here.