Mindless slashing at NSF won’t just harm the scientific enterprise today—it will damage discovery and innovation for years to come.

The recent discussions around proposed budget cuts to National Science Foundation (NSF) and other scientific agencies, including NASA and NIH, have raised alarms among scientific communities and advocates for research. As outlined, these proposed cuts, if enacted, are expected to severely limit ongoing and future projects that are critical to scientific progress and public health. This is particularly poignant in the context of personal narratives shared by individuals who have benefited directly from funding such as the NSF, which enabled both high school and graduate students to pursue their passions in science and technology. Moreover, comments about the administration's ideologically charged opposition to scientific rigor paint a troubling picture of the future where evidence-based research and its advocates could be systematically undermined. This sentiment reflects a broader frustration with a perceived war on expertise and factual understanding, particularly in areas like climate science which contradict certain political ideologies. Many voices in the discourse express a feeling of helplessness as they observe the systematic dismantling of scientific institutions while other countries, such as China and India, continue to invest heavily in their scientific advancements. The potential for a brain drain, where leading scientists and researchers may seek opportunities abroad, further compounds the concerns over the domestic research landscape. The commentary suggests that these budget cuts may stem from a fundamental misunderstanding or disregard for the importance of scientific institutions in fostering innovation, economic growth, and addressing global challenges such as public health crises and climate change. There are calls for increased action and advocacy from the scientific community and the general public to push back against these cuts and encourage support for continued funding of scientific endeavors. As we enter this critical juncture, where the future of scientific inquiry hangs in the balance, it becomes imperative for stakeholders at all levels to rally for the integrity of our research institutions. The ramifications of these decisions could have decades-long implications, not just for America’s scientific standing, but for global efforts to address critical issues through informed and rigorous research.