Science in the United States is at a crossroads.
This year alone, there have been a record number of attacks on science (as noted in our most recent update) that have the potential to undermine US innovation and position as a global leader in science for generations. By most metrics, Americans are not happy about this. In fact, a recent survey from the Civic Health and Institutions Project, a collaboration between Rutgers, Harvard, Northeastern University, and the University of Rochester, found that Americans disapprove of the Trump administration’s policies targeting science and medicine by a margin of more than 2-to-1. In the same vein, a Environmental Protection Network poll found that 76% of Trump voters and 86% of all voters oppose attempts to weaken the EPA.
We need policy not just to protect scientific research but to help protect the United States’ economy, global standing, and ability to innovate. It is impossible for science to thrive in an environment that silences experts or manipulates findings to fit political agendas, which is why the Scientific Integrity Act (SI Act), reintroduced this year in Congress, is needed now more than ever before.
Passing the SI Act would ensure that federally funded science is protected from any political interference, no matter the administration. That means businesses can be confident that they can trust federal data, which would give investors renewed confidence in emerging technologies and assurance that researchers can pursue truth without fear of retaliation. Added confidence in federal research would generate more innovation from scientists and businesses alike, which would lead to less risk and eventually more jobs. We need policy not just to protect scientific research but to help protect America’s economy, global standing, and ability to innovate.
Protecting science to power our economy
Science is at the core of a thriving economy, based on thorough data collection, unbiased analysis, and sound methodology, which lead to vital decisions that have kept the US a global economic leader for decades. In fact, recent research has found that returns on federally funded research and development appear to be substantially higher than the returns on other forms of federal investment such as physical infrastructure. Whether addressing climate change, preventing future pandemics, or setting agricultural policy that affects our nation’s farmers, decision makers need data based on reliable evidence, not cherry-picked based on ideology.
The nation can only lead if its scientists can freely publish findings without fear of retaliation. When scientists have that freedom, industry reaps the rewards. Research shows that an increase in academic freedom can lead to 41% more patents and 29% more highly influential patents. Free to do their jobs without constraints, scientists not only generate more ideas but also better ones, which drive the technologies, businesses, and industries that make economies thrive.
Business desperately needs accurate, independent federal science-driven data to improve operations and productivity, anticipate demand, scale staffing needs, build investor confidence, and make business decisions. They depend on accurate statistics, jobs reports, and economic data that is free from political interference to shape hiring strategies, guide product investments, and inform long-term planning.
For example, take the EPA’s Storm Water Management Model (SWMM), a globally used tool for planning, analysis, and design of stormwater and sewer systems, supporting cost-effective gray and green infrastructure solutions that reduce runoff and protect water quality. After cuts to the Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Research and Development, it’s unclear who will be responsible for maintaining and updating tools like this, which could cost companies millions of dollars in the long run. Indeed, to undermine science with ideology is not just unethical, it is financially reckless, as evidenced by the economic losses across all states from the politicized funding cuts and federal workforce reductions that have occurred since President Trump’s inauguration.
Suppressing or ignoring inconvenient scientific facts stifles innovation, weakens US competitiveness, and leads to a downturn in business and eventual job loss, all of which would be disastrous for our economy. This threat is especially clear with the recent cuts to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which funds vital health research on cancer, diabetes, dementia, and other diseases. Research from Science Impacts has shown that NIH funding not only advances science but also boosts the economy, returning more than 250% of the value invested. Reducing this funding will be harmful to science and society at large, with the same research projecting economic losses nationwide of $17 billion and 72,000 jobs.
Scientific integrity helps grow jobs and innovation
Scientific integrity ensures that science is communicated, conducted, and applied completely free from political interference, ideological distortion, or suppression of findings. It is absolutely essential to innovation. Many private sector jobs are funded by federal science agencies that back vital research, which enables breakthroughs that create countless jobs nationwide. The semiconductor industry is an example of how scientific advances can translate into economic growth. It directly employs more than 277,000 people and supports over 1.6 million related jobs in other sectors. The clean-energy sector has produced similar benefits, with over 3.3 million American jobs, which includes more than 250,000 in the solar industry alone. Innovations such as these can be the catalyst for new industries and provide jobs for communities around the country.
For another example, look at how scientists forecast the weather. Most weather apps, local forecasts, and agricultural tools are powered by data from the National Weather Service (NWS) or NOAA. Private weather forecasters like AccuWeather rely on government weather data, as well as NWS’ forecasting models for their products, utilized by farmers, pilots, and everyday consumers on a regular basis. Indeed, the NWS estimates that private businesses derive up to $13 billion in economic value from publicly available weather data, supporting a $7 billion industry, while the broader value of weather and climate information to the U.S. economy tops $100 billion annually.
Potential global talent shortages
If the US is to stay a global leader in science and innovation, it needs to develop its homegrown talent, but also attract talent from around the world. Unfortunately, due to several high-profile attacks on science as well as a combination of attempts to weaken institutions, RIFs, and dramatic funding cuts, many us scientists are looking abroad for jobs. And many international researchers are reluctant to come to the US due to the politicization of the visa process and threats to their personal safety—an opportunity several other countries are taking full advantage of. Several top European institutions such as the Max Planck Society, Karolinska Institute, and Aix-Marseille University are launching major initiatives to attract foreign scientists, including funding programs and a proposed EU “science passport” to ease mobility.
Aside from Europe, China is in the best financial position to hire abandoned and disillusioned US and foreign scientists weary of recent attacks on science. In fact, in February, reports of a Chinese recruitment drive of scientists prompted three members of the House of Representatives, including Rep. Zoe Lofgren, ranking member of the Science Space and Technology Committee, to send a letter to the Secretary of Commerce warning that mass layoffs at the National Institute of Standards and Technology could undermine the United States’s ability to compete with China.
It is a shame that some of the most talented minds in the world, who once looked to the US as a beacon for scientific freedom, are now reconsidering where to build their careers. Passing the Scientific Integrity Act would signal to scientists working here that we as a nation are serious about funding science, protecting their work, ensuring they are not fired for politically motivated reasons, and that their work can be done free of political interference. It is only by doing this that we can ensure that US scientific research stays globally respected, and the nation a magnet for top talent.
Restoring trust in US science
We unfortunately live in a time where misinformation and disinformation are more prominent in our nation’s public discourse than facts, despite having nearly all human knowledge at our fingertips thanks to the internet and smartphones. Historically, scientists are well respected by the general public, but today, scientists providing inconvenient truths are often seen as political liabilities. This is why restoring public trust in federal decisions is so important. When the public learns of federal scientific agencies manipulating or suppressing scientific findings, trust in both science and the federal government is eroded.
Supporting the Scientific Integrity Act is not and should not be partisan. It should be patriotic. This legislation will help the US stay competitive globally, secure jobs domestically, and ensure that truth prevails over “alternative facts.” If we want to continue to lead the world in innovation, protect our economic edge, and maintain or, in some cases, earn the trust of the American people, we must start with a straightforward commitment to let science speak for itself.