Senators Cantwell, Van Hollen speak out against possible cuts to National Science Foundation

The Trump administration has proposed a 55% cut to the National Science Foundation.

U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, of Washington, and U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen, of Maryland, led a virtual news conference with scientific leaders from around the country to discuss how the slash of funds could affect U.S. industry. 

“ We are in an age where there are several areas of U.S. competitiveness that depend on continued science innovation,” said Cantwell.

She said the big ones are aerospace, AI and quantum research. Much of that research being put into jeopardy by these cuts, she said.

The NSF has terminated 1,530 grants since January 20, totaling more than a billion dollars, Cantwell said.

In a speech on Monday at the National Academy of Sciences, Michael Katsios, the director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, said private money’s growing place in America’s scientific enterprise presents opportunities. 

“In a period of fiscal constraints and geopolitical challenges, an increase in private funding can make it easier for federal grantmaking agencies to refocus public funds on basic research and the national interest,” Katsios said. 

The private sector will not make up for the shortfall in funding for government funding, warned France A. Córdova, a former director of the NSF.

“Arguably the most important part of our economic security, our national security, and the relatively high standard of living we enjoy in this country is due to government funding of basic research in the scientific workforce,” she said at the virtual press conference. 

In Washington, NSF grants totaling $28 million have been canceled, along with $12 million in Oregon and nearly $6 million in Idaho, according to Grant Watch. 

Grants and funding investments for researching agriculture are also at risk, much of which is done at land-grant institutions like Washington State University. Nearly $6 million in government grants have already been cut at WSU, with more than $23 million at risk. 

Ananth Kalyanaraman is a professor at Washington State University and leads AgAID, an institute specializing in AI research for agriculture. He spoke at the virtual conference about how NSF grant funding is helping researchers develop AI tools for farmers to better predict weather patterns that could affect crops, and how to use water more effectively. 

A large drone sits in front of fruit trees at WSU’s Roza Orchard in Prosser, Washington. The AgAID institute is researching how to use drones for agriculture tasks such as thermal imaging of crops and dropping beneficial insects. (Credit: Washington State University)

“ This work is ushering in a new age of strength for American food producers and helping to ensure that we have secure, resilient and reliable food systems because we know food security is also nation’s national security,” Kalyanaraman said.
The U.S. has a strategic position when it comes to technology, said Van Hollen, and he warns the country could lose it. 

“All Americans suffer greatly when scientists don’t have the resources needed to do their pathbreaking jobs and work,” said Van Hollen, who mentioned that NSF funding helps with inventing new construction materials and space technology like radio telescopes. 

Van Hollen noted that Google and ChatGPT both started with some kind of NSF support. Technology for LASIK eye surgery was also developed with help from NSF. 

“This is a gift to our adversaries, it’s a gift to China,” Van Hollen said. “It does great harm not just to individual opportunity in the United States but to our collective success.” 

Cantwell said she’s going to try and build grassroots support to fight against the science funding cuts in Washington, D.C. 

Congress is supposed to pass government funding bills by October 1, but they have been enacting continuing resolutions to push out the deadline.