Washington, D.C. (April 3, 2026) — Today, Knowledge for a Competitive America (KCA) issued the following statement in response to the President’s Budget Request, which proposes significant cuts to “climate-dominated research programs” across federal agencies for the second year in a row:
The proposed cuts to America’s earth science and weather intelligence programs represent a concerning trend with serious consequences for the competitiveness, prosperity, and security of the United States,” said Pamitha Weerasinghe, Campaign Director for Knowledge for a Competitive America. “These are not abstract research programs — they are the backbone of industries that millions of Americans depend on every day such as agriculture, aviation, and housing. Gutting the programs that produce this information does not save money, it shifts costs and risks onto the very American workers, businesses, and communities that this, and every Administration, is responsible for protecting. We hope Congress steps up once again to pass a bipartisan spending package that ensures America’s scientific enterprise is protected and supported.
A survey conducted by KCA, in coordination with North Star Opinion Research and Global Strategy Group (GSG), found that Americans oppose eliminating federal funding for scientific research into the earth’s weather and climate. Moreover, voters overwhelmingly agree that cutting these kinds of programs is an unwise way to try to save taxpayers money.
The survey found that this opposition is rooted in a strong belief that scientific research is vital to maintaining America’s global leadership, upholding national security, and driving economic prosperity. Voters also view scientific research as essential for helping the government save lives by better predicting extreme weather events.
Read the survey results here.
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About Knowledge for a Competitive America:
Knowledge for a Competitive America (KCA) is a nonpartisan campaign to preserve, strengthen, and elevate essential federal science products and services that drive U.S. innovation and competitiveness in the aviation, aerospace, real estate, and agriculture industries. Working with a network of partners, KCA works to preserve, strengthen, and drive awareness of essential federal science and research investments that keep the U.S. competitive, prosperous, and secure.
