On 25 September, AGU sent a letter to leadership in the House and Senate appropriations committees expressing concern over the low funding levels for science agencies for Fiscal Year 2025. Read more:

On behalf of the American Geophysical Union (AGU) and our worldwide Earth and space science community, I write to share our deep concerns regarding funding for the U.S. scientific enterprise in the fiscal year (FY) 2025 appropriations bills. It is crucial that the United States maintains its commitment to timely, robust funding for science, which is fundamental to our nation’s economic growth, public health, and security. We respectfully urge you to work closely with your colleagues in both chambers of Congress to ensure that science funding is prioritized and that the FY2025 appropriations process continues without further delay and is completed before the end of 2024. 

 

We want to begin by expressing our sincere appreciation for the support both the Senate and House Appropriations Committees have shown for key science initiatives in their FY2025 reports. In particular, NASA’s Mars Sample Return (MSR) mission, one of the highest-priority missions for planetary science, holds the potential to revolutionize our understanding of Mars and the broader solar system, while also paving the way for future human exploration. Additionally, your support for the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP), which offers important insights that can guide decisions related to climate change, geological hazards, and natural resources, is crucial to advancing our knowledge of Earth’s history and current conditions, which in turn helps us better predict and address future challenges. While this support is invaluable, it’s imperative that Congress ensures funding remains a priority across all federal science agencies. 

 

Reduced investments in science are not only detrimental to researchers and laboratories but also stifle innovation and jeopardize the economic and strategic leadership of the United States. Federal funding for research and development (R&D) as a percentage of GDP declined from 1.86% in 1964 to just 0.62% in 2022, marking a concerning trend that risks diminishing our competitive edge. Scientific research has been the driving force behind many of the technological advancements that have propelled the nation to the forefront of global competition. These advancements have fueled industries, created jobs, and improved the quality of life for millions of Americans. For example, one economic impact study shows federal investments in NASA’s climate change research and technology yielding a return on investment of $7.20 for every dollar spent.  

 

The loss of funding means fewer groundbreaking discoveries, a slowdown in technological development, and a diminished ability to respond to emerging global challenges. These cuts could lead to a decline in our global standing, as other nations—especially China, which has increased its R&D spending by an average of 10% annually over the past two decades—continue to invest heavily in their scientific enterprises, gaining an edge that could take years, if not decades, to recoup. 

 

Additionally, the role that science plays in safeguarding our communities against the impacts of worsening natural disasters cannot be overstated. In recent years, the U.S has experienced a disturbing climate-related increase in the frequency and severity of disasters, such as catastrophic flooding, prolonged heat waves, raging wildfires, and devastating hurricanes. Federal science agencies, like the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), play a vital role in understanding and mitigating the health risks posed by disasters, such as funding research into how factors like air quality, toxic exposures, and climate change affect human health.  

 

These disaster events not only threaten lives and property but also have profound economic impacts, often costing billions of dollars in damages—with the U.S. now experiencing a billion-dollar weather or climate disaster every three weeks, on average. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), in 2023 alone there were 28 separate billion-dollar weather and climate disasters, the highest on record, resulting in a total cost of over $94.9 billion and significant loss of life. Along with NOAA, federal science agencies such as the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Science contribute significantly to disaster preparedness and resilience. For example, the DOE’s Office of Science plays a pivotal role in developing advanced technologies that can help mitigate the impacts of disasters, such as energy grid resilience against extreme weather events. However, delays in the appropriations process—or worse, cuts to these essential agencies and programs—significantly weaken the nation’s capacity to protect lives and property and safeguard the economy against these increasing threats. 

 

Inflation has further compounded the challenges faced by federal science agencies, eroding the real value of allocated funds, even where funding levels remain technically the same. Since 2010, the purchasing power of federal science funding has declined by approximately 10%, significantly reducing the ability of agencies to maintain their programs and support cutting-edge research. This financial strain forces agencies to make difficult choices, often resulting in cuts to critical programs, reduced support for innovative research, and limitations on the ability to attract and retain top talent. For instance, inflation hinders the capacity of the DOE’s Office of Science to provide consistent support of research in key areas such as clean energy and grid resiliency. The National Science Foundation (NSF) also faces similar challenges, with inflation eroding its ability to fund the same number of projects and researchers each year, stifling progress on new innovations. Funding federal science agencies and programs at levels that do not, at a minimum, account for inflation forces them to struggle to maintain their current operations with fewer resources. This backward slide not only impedes progress but also threatens to unravel years of scientific advancements. It is imperative that funding for these agencies be adjusted to account for inflation, ensuring that they have the resources necessary to continue their imperative work. 

 

In support of a thriving scientific enterprise and STEM ecosystem, for FY2025 we urge you to secure the highest possible funding allocation for the following agencies and divisions: 

• • Department of Energy’s Office of Science 

• • Environmental Protection Agency’s Science and Technology 

• • NASA’s Science Mission Directorate and Office of STEM Education 

• • National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), including its Superfund Research Program 

• • National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) 

• • National Science Foundation (NSF) 

• • U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) 

 

We also urge you to strike all appropriations riders that block funding for vital scientific research, hurt the recruitment and retention of the nation’s STEM workforce, and undermine efforts to strengthen public trust in federally funded science, including provisions that prevent use of funding for: 

• • understanding and addressing the impacts of climate change, including essential initiatives such as the U.S. Global Change Research Program.  

• • addressing diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility issues in the federal workforce, and 

• • advancing racial equity and support for underserved communities by the federal government. 

 

The stakes are too high to allow the nation’s scientific enterprise to be underfunded and for the appropriations process to be delayed indefinitely. We implore you to prioritize the timely and adequate funding of science in the FY2025 appropriations bills. Doing so is not just an investment in research, it is an investment in the safety, prosperity, and future of our nation. Thank you for your consideration.