1. United States
2. La.
3. Letter

On Friday, May 2, a massive blow to NSF-funded research was announced. This amounted to a 30% cut to grants that support crucial scientific research across the US. Additionally, the President’s proposed budget would cut NSF funding by 55%. In the past fiscal year, NSF directly supported 357,600 researchers, postdoctoral fellows, trainees, teachers and students at 1,850 universities, colleges and institutions. Slashing the budget would not only erode that effort, but have debilitating financial impacts to local economies, especially in rural areas. For almost 75 years, the National Science Foundation has funded scientific research, national security, innovation and leadership across our nation. It has established US global dominance in the sciences and driven the American economy. 
This unwise policy will threaten US scientific leadership. Undermining scientific research will disrupt the lives of millions of Americans who depend on the innovations produced by NSF-funded research. We call upon our elected representatives to oppose all cuts to NSF and restore unlawful DOGE-directed cuts to the agency and its staff.