Scientists Rally on Capitol Hill to Defend Federal Research Funding and Threatened Directorates

Nearly 200 researchers, advocates, and educators gathered at a Coalition for National Science Funding event on Capitol Hill to demonstrate the importance of federal investment in scientific research, particularly in the Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences Directorate facing elimination. Participating scientists presented interactive demonstrations of their NSF-funded work to congressional staff and the public, highlighting how federal support generates innovation, workforce development, and societal benefits across diverse research areas. The showcase served as both an advocacy effort to protect threatened funding programs and a celebration of federal science during a period of significant uncertainty for the research community.

The Coalition for National Science Funding organized an in-person advocacy event where approximately 200 members of the research community displayed their work to Capitol Hill visitors. The gathering specifically aimed to protect the Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences Directorate, which the current administration has targeted for elimination. Participants used hands-on demonstrations and informal discussion to illustrate the practical applications of their research across fields including psychology, engineering, and climate adaptation.

The event highlighted how federal research grants support not only scientific discoveries but also educational infrastructure and early-career researcher development. Presenters emphasized that NSF funding enables foundational investigation and cross-disciplinary collaboration that might not occur without sustained government investment. The showcase occurred amid congressional deliberations over the agency's budget for fiscal year 2027, with CNSF calling for at least $9.9 billion in funding.