The Story of American Science

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For nearly a century, the United States government has invested in scientific research — and the returns have been extraordinary. Here's the story of what that investment built, how it reaches beyond the lab, and what's at stake right now.

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Part One

What is federal science?

For decades, federal investment in scientific research has delivered substantial returns, advancing public health, environmental protection, national security and the economy. This investment has generated far more economic and social value than the dollars spent. These returns have come through both agency-led work and grants that fuel universities, nonprofits and private companies.

Government-led or -funded medical research and clinical trials have resulted in monumental breakthroughs, including the development of antibiotics, vaccines to prevent polio, COVID-19 and HPV, and new treatments for cancer, diabetes, heart disease and dementia.

Government’s support for space discovery has led not just to historic moments like the moon landing, but to practical technological advancements here on Earth, from baby formula to 3D printing, that have powered entire industries.

Our natural resources and environment also rely on federal investments and world-class researchers to curb air, water and land pollution and to preserve our forests, public lands and endangered species.

In addition, food inspectors and scientists play a critical role in protecting our food from contamination and in developing new ways to mitigate animal and plant diseases.

Taken together, federal science drives innovation and keeps the U.S. ahead of global competitors, delivering proven returns for taxpayers, protecting Americans, sustaining technological leadership and laying the groundwork for future breakthroughs.

84%

Agree the federal government should fund basic scientific research

National Science Foundation

42%

STEM Ph.D. graduates supported by federal funding

National Bureau of Economic Research

726,116

Federal employees working in science agencies as of February 2026

OPM

💡 Did You Know? The current system of federal funding for scientific research and development began in the aftermath of World War II. Building on the successful application of science during the war effort, the National Science Foundation was established in 1950 to provide funding for research and to promote the development and application of scientific knowledge. Other agencies like the National Institutes of Health also increased their funding for scientific research in the postwar era.

Breakthroughs That Changed Everything

Dr. Francis Collins

Led groundbreaking research that generated lifesaving medical treatments

National Institutes of Health (retired)

Collins led the international Human Genome Project team that produced the first complete human genetic blueprint. The project, largely completed in 2003 and added to by another team of researchers in 2022, has enabled the identification of genes linked to more than 5,000 rare diseases and…

"I became a public servant to give myself in every way that I could to advance the cause of human health for the benefit of humanity."

Sarah Nelson and Samantha Calkins

Achieved scientific energy breakeven for the first time—a nuclear ignition that produced more energy than it took to complete the process.

National Nuclear Security Administration

In 2022, Nelson, Calkins and their team achieved the first nuclear ignition to create more energy than it took to produce. This nuclear fusion reaction, as it is called, could one day enable nearly limitless production of clean energy and will enable the U.S. to modernize its nuclear stockpile…

"This historic, first-of-its kind achievement has moved us from hope to confidence that there will be a commercially available clean energy source for future generations." – Michael Thompson, former principal deputy, Department of Energy

Susan Solomon

Led atmospheric research that set us on a path to restoring the ozone layer.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (retired)

Solomon was the first scientist to theorize that chlorofluorocarbons were the cause of a growing hole in the Earth's ozone layer. Her expeditions to Antarctica in 1986 and 1987 provided the first evidence of the cause, permanently changed the course of atmospheric research and led to a global…

"It’s a wonderful thing to remember that we had a serious environmental problem, we recognized it, we actually did something about it, and indeed it’s on the path to recovery."

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Part Two

How does federal science extend beyond the lab?

Federally funded research extends far beyond scientists in white coats. It supports engineers, data analysts, field researchers, public health workers and employees at universities, small businesses and startups whose work is made possible by federal grants.

The numbers tell the story.

National Institutes of Health funding supported more than 390,000 jobs at universities, research institutions and companies across all 50 states, not just in Washington, D.C., and drove more than $94 billion in new economic activity nationwide in 2024. For every $1 invested in NIH research, there was a 250% return on the investment. The National Science Foundation similarly supported over 353,000 recipients outside the federal government, powering growth in artificial intelligence, biotechnology and advanced manufacturing.

That investment ripples outward in ways most Americans never connect back to federal research.

The internet and GPS technology began as Department of Defense projects. The touchscreen on your phone traces back to NSF-funded research. Modern weather forecasting, including the invention of radar and the first weather satellites, were developed thanks to federal support.

Space exploration tells a similar story. NASA’s work has yielded more than 2,000 spinoff technologies, including wireless headsets, water purification systems, scratch-resistant lenses, implantable heart monitors and the satellite communications infrastructure that underpins global commerce.

34%

U.S. labor force working in science, technology, engineering, math and medicine

AAAS

25%

Estimated productivity growth since World War II attributable to federal nondefense research and development funding

Texas A&M University and Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR)

84%

Say government investments in scientific research aimed at advancing knowledge are usually worthwhile investments for society

Pew Research Center

💡 Did You Know? Federal scientists, or federal funding for outside research, are responsible for numerous innovations we encounter in our everyday lives. The internet, GPS, cordless vacuums, smartphones and TV screens are all connected to federal science.

Science in the Real World: Impact Beyond the Lab

Johnie Jenkins

Developed America’s most prominent variety of pest-resistant cotton.

Department of Agriculture (retired)

During a 64-year career at the Department of Agriculture, Jenkins conducted pivotal research to eradicate the boll weevil and harmful roundworms from cotton plants, introducing a pest-resistant cotton variety that is now grown on 90% of U.S. cotton acres. His achievements have provided wide-ranging…

"I’ve had the opportunity to solve real problems for agriculture in ways that farmers could actually use, and that’s been incredibly rewarding."

Thuc Hoang

Built a supercomputer that is revolutionizing our nuclear stewardship and creating opportunities for new uses across fields.

National Nuclear Security Administration

Hoang and her team of Department of Energy scientists built the world's most powerful supercomputer and first exascale system, El Capitan. Partnering with technology companies, Hoang enabled revolutionary new chip designs and the innovative engineering required to build a computer capable of…

"This extraordinary accomplishment represents a transformative leap for both national defense and scientific discovery." - David Hoagland, acting deputy administrator for defense programs, National Nuclear Security Administration

Dr. Steven Rosenberg

Pioneered immunotherapy treatments used by millions of patients.

National Cancer Institute

Dr. Rosenberg is the father of immunotherapy, which harnesses the body's own immune system to destroy or halt the growth of cancer cells. Dating back to the 1980s, his innovations have led to numerous treatments for previously untreatable cancers and enabled millions of patients to live longer,…

"He is a national treasure. He is fundamental to the success of immunotherapy." - Dr. Michael Atkins, deputy director of the Georgetown-Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center

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Voices from the Field

"The agricultural industry is really what’s holding together the fabric of these regions and allows families to stay on their lands and keep their lands productive for future generations.” USDA grants are “key investments in the region—going to return many times over through uplifting the producer, getting them to new markets, and bringing in infrastructure, technical assistance and education that’s missing."

Micaela Young

Development Director at Piikani Lodge Health Institute in Montana

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Part Three

Why is it important to support federal science?

Since January 2025, federal science agencies have faced sweeping workforce reductions and program cuts. Poor execution has compounded the damage—employees laid off and rehired within days, grants terminated without review—creating instability across federal agencies and the universities, nonprofits and private companies that depend on them.

Thousands of federal employees engaged in cutting-edge scientific research, public health, food and drug safety, the environment, disease surveillance and land management have been laid off or accepted buyouts, taking with them expertise that took decades to build.

The research disruptions have been equally significant: thousands of projects frozen, terminated or tied up in the courts, with billions in estimated economic losses resulting from canceled grants as of February 2026, limiting the ability of universities, laboratories and federal scientists to sustain ongoing work or launch new projects.

The consequences extend well beyond the research community. Stalled medical and technological research means delayed breakthroughs. Reduced environmental and public health monitoring creates real risks for Americans. And as the U.S. pulls back, global competitors are accelerating their own research investments, threatening American technological and economic leadership.

24%

Decrease in project grant funding from science agencies between 2024 and 2025

USAspending

117,840

Decrease in the number of employees working in federal science agencies between September 2024 and February 2026

OPM

75%

Scientists, polled in March 2025, who were considering leaving the U.S. because of disruptions to science

Nature

💡 Did You Know? Science agencies were heavily impacted by the cuts to the federal workforce in 2025 and early 2026. The size of the federal workforce overall decreased by 12%, but most science agencies saw larger decreases. Agencies that provide healthcare to veterans, manage our national parks, ensure the safety of food and medication, conduct medical research, and more lost thousands of employees.

Program by Program: What's Stopped, Paused, or At Risk

CANCELED South Dakota News Watch • April 2026

Increasing Land, Capital and Market Access Program

The Department of Agriculture canceled active grants worth $300 million from the Increasing Land, Capital and Market Access program, intended to help new farmers gain the resources and knowledge they need to get started. One reason cited for these cancellations was that many of the program’s grantees supported farmers from African American and Native American communities—groups that have been historically disadvantaged when trying to acquire loans or land.

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"There are people who are concerned with science for the public good that are making sure science is benefiting everybody. We need a trained workforce, infrastructure, analysis tools, and public-domain information that anybody can use to make advances — and those are things only publicly funded science is really going to contribute to."

Jennifer Troyer

Former director at the Division of Extramural Operations at the National Institutes of Health

Want to discover how changes could affect you?

Explore the impact of sweeping changes to essential science programs on people and communities across the country

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