Fully Fund NSF, NIH, CDC, and Other Research Agencies in Next Year's Budget

I am writing to express my deep concern about the future of scientific research in the United States and to urge you to ensure full funding for the National Science Foundation (NSF), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and other crucial research agencies in next year's budget. The United States has long been a global leader in scientific innovation, largely due to robust federal support for research. This leadership is now at risk. Recent delays in releasing congressionally allocated funds and potential budget cuts threaten to undermine our nation's scientific capabilities and economic competitiveness. Federal research funding is not merely an expense; it is a critical investment in our nation's future. It drives economic growth, creates jobs, and maintains our edge in global innovation. Many of our most impactful industries and job-creating companies have their roots in federally funded research. Cutting or underfunding research agencies like NSF, NIH, and CDC will have severe consequences. It will delay or potentially eliminate scientific breakthroughs that keep the US at the forefront of innovation. As funding becomes scarce, we risk losing our best and brightest researchers to other countries where research is better supported. This brain drain will extend to our students, who may follow these researchers abroad, further diminishing our future scientific capacity. The economic implications of underfunding research are significant and far-reaching. In 2019, the NSF alone supported an estimated 306,000 jobs across the US economy. The NIH, meanwhile, supported nearly 476,000 jobs nationwide in fiscal year 2021. These numbers underscore the substantial economic impact of federal research funding. I urge you to take immediate action to ensure that the NSF, NIH, CDC, and other research agencies are fully funded in next year's budget. This is crucial not only for maintaining our scientific leadership but also for securing our economic future and national security. Time is of the essence. Every day that passes with reduced funding is a day we fall behind our global competitors. Please act now to protect American innovation, secure our economic future, and maintain our position as a world leader in scientific research. Our nation's prosperity and security depend on your commitment to fully funding these vital research agencies.