Scientific Society Sign On Letter

Dear members of Congress,

We, the undersigned professional scientific societies, associations, and organizations, are writing to ask you to take immediate action to protect and restore life-saving and essential scientific research that benefits American families and communities. This scientific research is funded by American taxpayers and authorized by Congress and cannot be unilaterally halted by the executive branch.

The nonpartisan organizations signing this letter collectively represent more than 99,000 chemists, geologists, economists, ecologists, engineers, geographers, marine biologists, sociologists, oceanographers, historians of science, and educators. We represent not only professional scientists but also technologists, assistants, administrative, service, and custodial staff, without whom scientific research and programs would no be possible. We work in all 50 states, Washington DC, and US territories to lay the foundation for life-saving medical discoveries, clean air and water in our communities, safe and abundant food, healthy ecosystems and wildlife, and thriving local innovation economies.

The actions of this administration have already caused significant harm to American science and are risking the health and safety of our communities. These cuts devastate our ability to conduct important research in the public interest, including finding cures for cancer and ensuring our food and water supplies are safe. Public health experts have been prohibited from sharing important information with the public. Federal scientists have been barred from communicating with international colleagues, preventing critical US input into international conservation and management decisions.

Indiscriminate cuts or pauses to federal science and research agencies are damaging critical research and the nation's economy. Thousands of dedicated public servants have been fired, including early-career scientists who were disproportionately impacted. This jeopardizes the next decade of science and innovation gains, particularly at a time when many senior scientists are retiring. Vital sources of funding have been slashed, including funding that trains the next generation of scientific talent. Because of this, some universities have paused graduate admissions and even rescinded admissions offers. Delays and drastic cuts in federal grant funding will not only negatively impact universities, but also have economic repercussions in the areas surrounding universities. Every dollar invested by the National Science Foundation generates approximately two dollars in economic output in communities surrounding universities, and every dollar invested by the National Institutes of Health generates approximately $2.46.

The suspension of congressionally mandated efforts to broaden participation in science and technology is hampering our ability to produce the next generation of talent essential to our global competitiveness. Essential and cost-effective diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility programs provide critical support for training a robust and internationally competitive science workforce, fostering talent that would otherwise be excluded. When the STEM workforce is diverse, so is the knowledge and creativity brought to solving pressing problems. These important efforts have been misconstrued and demonized, and our members from underrepresented minority groups have been unfairly singled out for funding removal and personal harassment.

We ask that Congress take immediate action to:

• Enforce legislative control over congressionally-approved federal funds
• Restore a federal grant expert peer review process that is free from “ideological review,” and restore canceled funding streams and grant programs
• Allow government scientists to do their important work, including speaking with the public and collaborating with international colleagues
• Oppose drastic cuts to workforces at federal scientific research and funding agencies, and oppose drastic cuts to future grants
• Protect individual government scientists from being singled out for harassment
• Cease attacks on, and restore funding to, diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in the scientific community

We are proud of our diverse expertise, disciplines, and perspectives, and we are all united by a common principle: that federally funded scientific research and study is a common public good and should not be politicized, attacked, or frozen. Congress must act now to provide clarity and certainty in this chaotic moment. We stand ready to work with you to provide further information on the importance of scientific research to your state and priorities.