APS Responds to Proposed Drastic Cuts to Federal Science Agencies in FY21 Budget

The President’s budget for fiscal year 2021 proposes harmful cuts to federal science agencies—including the Department of Energy’s Office of Science, the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the National Science Foundation. These agencies are vital to addressing the nation’s most pressing challenges in science and technology, impacting areas such as national security, energy, healthcare and education.

“The proposed cuts would curtail progress in long-term scientific research, stifle innovation, jeopardize our national security, and reduce our ability to build an outstanding workforce,” said Philip Bucksbaum, president of the American Physical Society (APS). “They would also be devastating to the U.S. scientific enterprise, coming at a time when America’s role as a global leader is being challenged by our counterparts in Europe and Asia.”

To help keep the nation on a path of prosperity, APS urges Congress and the President to work together to prioritize robust and sustainable funding for the federal science agencies. History has proved that strong investments in research and development are essential to economic growth, job creation and national defense.

U.S. Capitol Building