Copyright Hartford Courant
The COVID-19 pandemic corroborated what decades of experiential knowledge have steadily shown—the United States’ investment in fundamental research builds the skilled workforce that drives economic prosperity. Yet currently, the restrain on federal research funding could determine whether our country maintains its pool of scientists, engineers, and thought leaders or our competitors gain an advantage that could take generations to reverse. From 2017 to 2021, the U.S. Congress approved the largest increases in federal research spending in over a decade. Interestingly, by 2018, funding for the National Science Foundation reached record levels (adjusted for inflation and not accounting for the Recovery Act), and in consequence, contributed towards extraordinary outcomes in skilled human workforce development. The NSF stands as the backbone of America’s workforce development in STEM. Unlike mission-focused agencies, NSF supports research training across all fields—from quantum computing and advanced manufacturing to bioengineering and earth sciences. This breadth breeds ante disciplinary scientists and engineers equipped to tackle next-generation challenges. The impact on the workforce is considerable. The STEM workforce increased radically during these high-funding years. Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and NSF confirms that between 2011 and 2021, STEM employment grew from 29.0 million to 34.9 million workers, an incredible 20 percent increase. The median wage of STEM workers in 2023 was more than double the national median. NSF typically supports over 200,000 researchers, postdoctoral fellows, teachers, and students annually through research awards to universities and small businesses, thereby training the inventors and innovators who will lead America’s economy for decades. Research institutions become proving grounds that develop, nurture and supply talent to entire regional economies. Yet current policies can severely impede this progress. In May 2025, NSF had terminated roughly 1,040 grants worth $739 million. The proposed 2026 budget would slash NSF funding by 57 percent, from about $9 billion to $3.9 billion, the most severe cut in the agency’s 75-year history. The ramifications will extend much beyond any of the individual projects. Economists at American University estimate that a 25 percent cut to federal research funding would reduce U.S. GDP by 3.8 percent, comparable to the Great Recession, while a 50 percent cut would reduce GDP by 7.6 percent; in simpler terms, the average American would be approximately $10,000 poorer. Amidst these changes universities are effecting hiring freezes and limiting graduate student positions, a critical pipeline that produces the next generation of skilled workers. NSF-funded research training transforms student researchers into problem-solvers. When students are engaged with NSF-supported projects, there is an intrinsic reciprocity in the outcomes: research moves forward with student contributions, while the trainees themselves hone their abilities in critical thinking and technical skills, that can be tailored to tackle complex challenges that no classroom alone can provide. The technologists who will synthesize high-performance batteries, integrate human elements in cybersecurity, and formulate neuromorphic computing algorithms, are in training now. Limited NSF funding would imply that the workforce projected to be ready in 2030 may not emerge till 2040 or 2050, or ever. NSF supports about 50,000 graduate students annually through research assistantships and fellowships. Without this funding support, universities cannot maintain graduate programs. Lack of well-trained American scientists and engineers will result in a struggle for companies to find the best recruits, resulting in a sluggish economic growth. The next phase of the repercussions would be talent drain, with scientists considering relocation to countries where research environments remain stable. They are the knowledge powerhouses who as faculty members can train the next generation, as industry leaders can direct new advancements, and as entrepreneurs can incorporate new companies. NSF’s establishment shaped the foundation for the U.S. leadership in scientific workforce. The 2018-2021 upsurges in funding validated that investment yields measurable returns in jobs, skills development, and economic opportunity. Today, we face a choice: to maintain the research enterprise that trains the workforce America needs to sustain its global leadership, or to let that advantage erode. The question isn’t whether we can afford to fund research training through NSF; it is whether we can afford not to. Ganesh Balasubramanian, Ph.D., is associate professor of mechanical and electrical engineering at the University of New Haven.
