The Coalition for National Science Funding (CNSF) has written to Appropriation Committee members requesting that the National Science Foundation (NSF) receive at least $9.9 billion in funding for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026. This amount would restore NSF's funding to its FY 2023 level. Investing in fundamental research is crucial for maintaining U.S. leadership in emerging technologies such as AI, quantum computing, and biotechnology.
March 13th, 2025
Dear Chair Collins, Ranking Member Murray, Chair Cole, and Ranking Member DeLauro,
On behalf of the Coalition for National Science Funding (CNSF) – an alliance of more than 140 professional organizations, scientific societies, universities, and businesses united in our advocacy for the National Science Foundation (NSF) – we write to respectfully request that your committees provide at least $9.9 billion for NSF in Fiscal Year (FY) 2026. Furthermore, we encourage you to do everything possible to ensure that final FY 2025 appropriations supply the strongest level of funding to the agency and help the agency recover from the historic 8% reduction in FY 2024.
Investing in fundamental research is imperative to win the technology race with China. The United States cannot afford to cede leadership in the fields that will define the future—including artificial intelligence (AI), quantum computing, advanced materials, and biotechnology. Basic research is the catalyst for transformative technologies, often yielding applications unforeseen at the time of discovery, and NSF is the agency supporting basic research in all these areas. No one can predict where the next breakthrough will emerge, so we must bolster research across science and engineering disciplines and their intersections. This includes support for the Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (TIP) Directorate, which is enabling the scaling and translation of new research discoveries, and the STEM Education Directorate, which is working to ensure we have the workforce to power our future innovation.
Funding NSF at $9.9 billion would bring NSF back to the FY 2023 level when supplemental resources enabled the launch of TIP and the Regional Innovation Engines. This level of funding would restore NSF’s ability to move the Engines forward, but even at $9.9 billion, NSF would face tough choices. NSF faces many critical infrastructure needs, such as the nascent National AI Research Resource (currently in a small pilot phase), top-rated physics and astronomy observatories, and continuing development of future major facilities. NSF’s construction account will need major growth to fund these projects, which protect American leadership and greatness, leverage hundreds of millions of dollars from international and industry partners and enable breakthrough discoveries. Appropriations at this level would also enable additional congressional and administration priorities, such as allowing new Quantum Leap Challenge and AI Institutes, platforms for the translation of key educational innovations like adaptive learning platforms, and the next phase of a pilot wildfires resilience effort that has been planned for several years. Finally, NSF is critical for developing and strengthening our nation's workforce. NSF supports more than a quarter of all graduate trainees in cutting-edge areas of research and supports the training and professional development of thousands of K-12 STEM teachers. NSF also supports the education of advanced technical workers at more than 150 community colleges nationwide and works closely with industry and other partners to expand efforts to meet labor market needs by investing in targeted expertise and training programs.
Funding for NSF lags far behind congressionally authorized levels and the amount needed to truly meet our national competitiveness needs. In 2022, Congress reauthorized NSF for 5 years and included a target funding level in FY 2026 of $17.8 billion. We encourage you to prioritize investments in the NSF during the FY 2026 appropriations process.
As you work on FY 2026 appropriations, we urge you to fund NSF at no less than $9.9 billion to protect American science leadership, advance key emerging technology areas, strengthen NSF research infrastructure, and invest in the workforce of tomorrow to secure our competitiveness and security. We thank you for your continued support of NSF.
Sincerely,
The Coalition for National Science Funding
Identical letter sent to: Chair Moran, Ranking Member Van Hollen, Chair Rogers, and Ranking Member Meng
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Additional Supporters of CNSF:
Academic Data Science Alliance
American Association for Anatomy
American Association of Physicists in Medicine
American Industrial Hygiene Association
American Society for Cell Biology
Association for Women in Science
Endocrine Society
Gerontological Society of America
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM)
National Science Teaching Association
Society For Biomaterials
Society for Personality and Social Psychology
Society of Women Engineers
The Wildlife Society