We must act now to protect science and American innovation.

Cancer treatments. The smartphone. The moon landing.

Government funding for American science and innovation has propelled countless medical advancements, new technologies, and scientific discoveries. But now, the future of American science and innovation is at risk because of the Trump administration’s massive cuts and freezes to federally funded research and development and attacks on colleges and universities. 

Join our Day of Action on July 21 and tell Congress to protect science and American innovation!

Tell Congress: Fight back against attacks on science, medicine, and innovation  

American prosperity depends on science and innovation.

U.S. universities, medical centers, labs, and companies have long been leaders in innovation around the world, and our national competitiveness is built on the back of this ecosystem—funded in large part by federal investments in research and development. At the heart of this ecosystem are robust National Institutes of Health (NIH) and National Science Foundation (NSF) grants and policies that support scientific research. Roughly one-third (31 percent) of federally funded research is performed at colleges and universities, which help attract top scientific talent to America to discover and invent the future.

Benefits of federal research and development funding

$2.56 New economic output for every $1 of NIH funding, meaning NIH cuts could result in up to $16 billion lost in economic output. Science Impacts and United for Medical Research
99.4% Approved drugs that received NIH funding for their research between 2010 and 2019, including heart medications. Comparison of Research Spending on New Drug Approvals by the National Institutes of Health vs the Pharmaceutical Industry 2010–2019, Contribution of NIH funding to new drug approvals 2010–2016
$95B Economic activity generated nationwide in 2024 from $37 billion in NIH awards to researchers. United for Medical Research
140%–210% Estimated economic returns from post-World War II federal research and development funding, accounting for nearly one quarter of post-war American productivity growth. Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas

The ongoing federal effort to undermine American research, science, and technology is dangerous.

The Trump administration has terminated billions in federal grants to scientific institutions and universities; attempted to cut the indirect cost rate on federal grants; implemented punitive restrictions on legal immigration for high-skilled workers, researchers, and international students; threatened scientific publications; and proposed massive budget cuts to NSF, NIH, and other federal research agencies. To make matters worse, the administration is now threatening to cancel $30 billion in already appropriated science funding. At a time of fierce global competition in artificial intelligence, biotech, and space, America cannot afford to destroy its science and innovation ecosystem.

The Trump administration’s attacks on federal science and innovation funding

$3.3B Remaining grant funds in $8.5 billion worth of cancelled NIH grants. Grant Watch
$1.1B Minimum number of NSF grants cancelled. Urban Institute,Grant Watch
$3.7B Remaining grant funds in $8.2 billion worth of terminated grants to higher education across all of the federal cuts claimed by DOGE and HHS. DOGE,HHS
$11B Funding cuts experienced by universities during the first four months of the Trump administration. NPR
$30B Already appropriated funding to agencies including NSF, HHS, and NOAA that the administration is reportedly attempting to cancel through a future rescissions bill. Politico

Rescissions and the fight for federal funding for science and innovation

Congress just approved a White House rescissions package to cancel government funds previously signed into law. This means that money that was already approved by Congress last year and promised to certain programs is being canceled. 

Already, the Trump administration is reportedly preparing additional rescissions bills, including one that will attempt to cancel $30 billion in already appropriated funding to NSF, HHS, NOAA, and other agencies. The administration may even attempt an unprecedented maneuver called a pocket rescission to unilaterally cancel the funding in the absence of congressional action. 

The impact of these rescissions bills is to render the traditionally bipartisan appropriations process meaningless. While these tactics undermine America’s global leadership and democracy, they also have devastating real-world consequences for patients struggling with life-threatening diseases, communities ravaged by the effects of climate change, and more. 

That is why it is so important for as many communities as possible to ensure Congress knows how dangerous these rescissions packages are to science, medicine, and innovation, as well as the  future funding and operation of the federal government.

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    Tell Congress: Fight back against attacks on science, medicine, and innovation