A government shutdown at any time is devastating for U.S. science and the public it serves. Immobilizing the government halts critical research, disrupts data collection and delays life-saving work on climate, health and natural disasters.
AGU stands firmly against these harmful disruptions and calls on Congress and the Administration to work together in a bipartisan effort to not only reopen the government but also provide robust and committed support for science and the people who drive it, ensuring America’s security, innovation and competitiveness.
We are actively engaging with policymakers to emphasize the widespread impacts of a federal government shutdown while also staying connected with our diverse membership to understand and respond to the concerns being felt across the country and globally.
One thing is clear: Much hinges on when—and how—this shutdown ends.
Agencies like the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration and the U.S. Geological Survey deliver life-saving forecasts and hazard monitoring, but funding delays and cuts devastate their ability to protect communities. The Administration’s proposal eliminating NOAA’s research office would directly harm industries, farmers and first responders.
Science funding is not just a cost—it’s an investment. Every federal dollar drives more than $8 in private research and development. Cuts stall innovation and jobs and threaten America’s innovative edge. Proposed NASA cuts would push funding back to before Apollo-era levels just as global competition in space is intensifying.
A strong STEM workforce is vital to America’s future, and a proposed slashing of nearly 50% to the National Science Foundation would devastate programs that build the pipeline of future scientists and innovators.
That’s why your voice matters. We urge you to join the fight: Call or email your representatives through AGU’s Science Policy Action Center and demand that Congress not only reopen the government but also pass a budget that properly funds scientific research and ensures that the money is actually spent. By organizing as a scientific community, we can ensure science remains a national priority. This is a collective endeavor—and it requires all of us.