APS responds to proposed debilitating cuts to federal science agencies in FY26 budget

The president’s budget for fiscal year 2026 proposes damaging cuts to federal science agencies – including but not limited to the Department of Energy’s Office of Science, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the NASA Science Mission Directorate, and the National Science Foundation. These agencies are vital to addressing some of the nation’s most pressing challenges and improving the lives of all Americans.

“If enacted, the president’s proposed cuts would eliminate opportunities for students, set U.S. research and innovation on a path of decline, and diminish the scientific workforce, making it ill-equipped to meet the needs of industry and society,” said Jonathan Bagger, CEO of the American Physical Society (APS). “Long-term, these cuts would devastate the U.S. technological enterprise.”

APS urges Congress to reject the president’s proposed cuts to science and instead prioritize robust and sustainable funding for the federal science agencies in fiscal year 2026. The Society stands ready to work with Congress and the Administration to ensure the United States continues to be a global leader in science, technology and innovation.