STAC’s Statement on the National Science Board Dismissal

A new analysis shows American science is shrinking and the data is stark. NIH competitive grants are down >50% year-over-year and NIH-funded projects saw a 15% drop in FY2025. Without sustained federal investment in our scientific enterprise, the U.S. risks losing its competitive edge.

As NASA puts it, Artemis II is just the “opening act” for sustained exploration of the Moon and beyond. That future depends on decades of research and continued investment in S&T today. Read about the historical mission and the future of U.S. in space from @space.com 🌕 tinyurl.com/ms9n3bfh

China has surpassed the U.S. in total R&D investment ($1.03T in 2024), per @oecdgovernance.bsky.social. The implications for U.S. policy are immediate. Public R&D is one of the highest-returning investments, yet proposed cuts move in the opposite [email protected]⬇️ www.aau.edu/newsroom/lea...

A new op-ed from @researchamerica.bsky.social grant recipient JP Flores explores why scientists must engage directly with communities, especially in an era where misinformation spreads fast.. Read more in Sci Politic sciencepolitics.org/2026/03/18/w...

STAC Statement on the President’s FY2027 Budget Request

New piece from STAC member Harvey Fineberg in @pnas.org offers a sharp look at what it will take to revive U.S. science leadership. Key point: flat funding isn’t enough. The U.S. needs to invest in talent, prioritize key technologies, and rebuild public trust. More ⬇️ www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...

@theatlantic.com examines the growing risk that China could surpass the U.S. as the world’s leading scientific power. For a deeper dive on the data behind this shift, check out STAC’s one-pager on China’s strategy to win the global technology race 👉 sciencetechaction.org/wp-content/u...

A new survey highlighted by @statnews.com shows many NIH-funded labs scaling back research, delaying projects, and struggling to retain talent. Sustained, predictable funding is critical to protecting the next generation of scientific discovery. www.statnews.com/2026/03/19/n...

An analysis by STAC members highlights a turning point in global science leadership. China may soon lead in public R&D funding and could surpass the U.S. in basic science within a decade. The moment calls for renewed U.S. investment and leadership. From @nature.com⬇️ www.nature.com/articles/d41...

NIH research funding generated $94B in economic activity in 2025, a $2.57 return for every $1 invested, supporting nearly 391,000 jobs nationwide. Biomedical research fuels innovation and local economies. Read more from @forbes.com ⬇️ www.forbes.com/sites/michae...

The next leap in scientific discovery won’t just come from AI, it'll come from people. DOE says the goal is to double the productivity of science R&D spending, alongside new university partnerships focused on training for the future workforce. More from @axios.com🧑‍🔬 www.axios.com/2026/03/13/d...

NASA is strengthening the Artemis program as America prepares to return astronauts to the Moon. This initiative underscores how sustained investment in S&T supports innovation, strengthens the research ecosystem, and helps maintain U.S. leadership. 🚀 www.nasa.gov/directorates...

The BIOTech Caucus announced its first ever legislative endorsements, backing the National Biotechnology Initiative Act and the Biomanufacturing Excellence Act. Momentum is building to strengthen U.S. biotech leadership. More from @houlahan.house.gov & Rep. Bice🔗 houlahan.house.gov/news/documen...

America’s competitiveness in the global technology race is back on the congressional agenda. Last week, a bipartisan group of Senators reintroduced the Future of AI Innovation Act, which would expand NIST’s AI standards work and strengthen R&D coordination. @axios.com⬇️ www.axios.com/2026/02/26/s...

STEM jobs are growing faster than non-STEM jobs in the U.S. Today, 36 million Americans—1 in 4 workers—are in STEM roles. Sustaining this momentum requires stronger education pathways and retention across the talent pipeline. New analysis from the NSF NSB ⬇️ ncses.nsf.gov/pubs/nsb2026...

China’s 1999 higher ed expansion boosted U.S. STEM growth. International student flows are tightly tied to American innovation and economic competitiveness. In order to maintain its innovation edge, the U.S. needs a plan. More from Stanford SCCEI 👇 sccei.fsi.stanford.edu/china-briefs...

Europe, the UK, and China are actively recruiting U.S.-based scientists amid research funding cuts. For America, this is a competitiveness warning: sustained funding uncertainty risks driving top talent and future innovation abroad. Learn more in @Semafor.com ➡️ www.semafor.com/article/02/1...

Federal investment in science drives economic growth. A new @aau.edu report finds every $1 invested in R&D returns $5 in long-term economic growth. Learn more 💡 www.aau.edu/sites/defaul...

Thank you to Sen. Jerry Moran, @vanhollen.senate.gov Rep. Hal Rogers, and @meng.house.gov for laying the groundwork for final passage of the FY26 CJS bill. Cuts to NASA and NSF were limited, and we look forward to working with you on more robust research investments that safeguard U.S. leadership.

The federal government lost 10K+ STEM Ph.D.s in one year – a blow to innovation, public health, national security, and economic growth. Strong federal funding keeps this expertise in public service. More in @science.org ⤵️ www.science.org/content/arti...

Thank you to Sen. Susan Collins, @murray.senate.gov, Rep. Tom Cole, and @delauro.house.gov negotiating a bipartisan FY26 agreement that protects core science funding and delivers full-year certainty for agencies that underpin America’s economy. @democrats-appropriations.house.gov

STAC Statement Thanking President Donald Trump for Signing the Senate Amendment to H.R. 7148, the Consolidated Appropriations Act

AI competition isn’t just about who has the best models—it’s about foundations: compute, energy, talent, and sustained investment in research and innovation capacity. The U.S. leads on many measures, but the picture is mixed. More from @time.com ➡️ time.com/7358519/ai-c...

NASA selected 3 new Moon science investigations under its CLPS initiative, leveraging U.S. industry innovation to advance Artemis. From 3D terrain mapping to subsurface drilling, this is what progress looks like when government and industry move forward together🌕 www.nasa.gov/news-release...

Yesterday's House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology hearing sent a clear message: maintaining U.S. leadership in quantum will take sustained federal commitment and a strong bridge from research to real-world impact. More here 🔗 science.house.gov/2026/1/full-...

STAC's Statement on FY26 Labor–Health and Human Services–Education Appropriations Package

Sudip Parikh, CEO of @aaas.org and VAST Task Force member, shares how sustained advocacy is essential to maintaining and strengthening America’s science and technology leadership 🧪 bsky.app/profile/scif...

New reporting from @economist.com highlights how lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are stepping up in Washington, but protecting today’s funding is only the starting point if we want to maintain America’s competitive edge. www.economist.com/united-state...

Micron’s $100B investment reflects the impact of the CHIPS & Science Act in action. Strategic public investment in semiconductor R&D and manufacturing is strengthening U.S. supply chains, and marking a turning point for American industrial leadership. www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/belt...

In China, an AI tool developed by Alibaba and supported by government-funded partnerships is detecting pancreatic cancer before symptoms appear – a breakthrough in tackling one of the deadliest cancers. Investing in scientific discovery saves lives🧬⬇️ www.nytimes.com/2026/01/02/w...

"We must create a domestic R&D environment that keeps pace with industry capabilities and promotes innovation right here in our communities." – Rep. Brian Babin at today's House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology hearing. Read more: science.house.gov/2026/1/envir...

STAC's statement on FY26 Commerce-Justice-Science appropriations legislation:

In our formal response to the White House Office of Science & Technology RFI on Accelerating the American Scientific Enterprise, we emphasize that the U.S. is at an inflection point and a strategic framework already exists: STAC’s Vision for American Science & Technology (VAST) ⬇️ www.vastfuture.org

This week the National Science Board released a report calling for updates to the NSF's merit review to strengthen fiscal accountability, broaden participation and ensure federally funded research delivers economic benefits while also maintaining scientific excellence. www.nsf.gov/nsb/updates/...

The final FY26 NDAA shows how central science & tech are to U.S. security – but sustained, predictable funding is what keeps our research ecosystem strong. With appropriations still uncertain, investment matters more than ever. Read more from @aip-publishing.bsky.social🔗 www.aip.org/fyi/what-the...

“Firing world class scientists and pausing programs will hinder American innovation and our leadership in the world,” – @ross.house.gov at the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology hearing yesterday. Now is the time to reinforce America’s S&T enterprise. science.house.gov/2025/12/full...

Young researchers are stepping up. SNAP’s nationwide district visits show how urgent science advocacy has become as FY26 funding hangs in the balance. When scientists share their stories, policymakers listen. Read more from @forbes.com➡️ www.forbes.com/sites/johndr...

A new report from the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology makes clear: America stays competitive when we invest in S&T. Continued prioritization of early-stage ideas and stronger data + AI tools is essential for U.S. innovation. From @statnews.com www.statnews.com/2025/11/25/b...

Important read on what it will take for the U.S. to stay competitive in science and technology. Investment in ideas, research, and talent—not just capital infusions—is what drives leadership. Full article from the DC Journal 👇 dcjournal.com/tech-future-...

"We urge you to protect the nation’s economic security and the well-being of the American people through robust funding of crucial scientific priorities." Read the STAC co-chairs' letter in support of FY26 funding levels in the Senate CJS bill: sciencetechaction.org/wp-content/u...

NIH funding cuts halted 383 clinical trials this year, disrupting research across cancer, heart disease, and brain disorders. The U.S. needs a predictable R&D strategy and a strong research workforce to protect innovation and patient outcomes. @apnews.com 🔗 apnews.com/article/nih-...

A bipartisan report to Congress highlights how the US can face competition with China head-on by modernizing economic infrastructure, investing in emerging technologies, & strengthening partnerships across the Indo-Pacific. ⬇️Read more from @washingtonpost.com www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...

The reopening of the federal government is a reminder of the urgency of investing in S&T. The U.S. needs predictable research budgets, a strong workforce, and robust R&D funding to reinforce our leadership as global innovators. Read @nature.com’s breakdown 🔗 www.nature.com/articles/d41...

China’s rise in AI, manufacturing, and biotech shows what sustained investment in R&D can achieve. Investing in U.S. science and technology supercharges our economy and workforce, uplifts our communities, and secures our future. Read more in @theatlantic.com: www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...

STAC’s statement on the government reopening:

“The dulling of America’s scientific edge” isn’t inevitable – but it is a warning. As U.S. researchers look abroad, our leadership is at risk. We need renewed federal S&T investment to empower those who drive American discovery. From @postopinions.bsky.social🔗 www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...

Between 2020 and 2024, China’s research output grew 95%, while U.S. output increased by just 9.5%, per The Quincy Institute. America’s edge depends on renewed investment in science, innovation, and global collaboration. Read more 🔗 quincyinst.org/research/chi...

“Apprenticeships aren’t short-term training – they’re how we build the workforce of the future.” At today’s Senate HELP Committee hearing, labor and industry leaders emphasized the need for registered apprenticeships to drive innovation and keep the U.S. competitive.

"X-59 is a symbol of American ingenuity. The American spirit knows no bounds... This work sustains America's place as the leader in aviation and has the potential to change the way the public flies." – Sean Duffy, acting NASA administrator. Read more in Fox News here🔗 www.foxnews.com/politics/nas...