The NSC Alliance has submitted testimony to the House Appropriations Committee regarding fiscal year (FY) 2026 funding for programs that curate natural history collections within the Department of the Interior and Smithsonian Institution.
“Scientific collections are critical research infrastructure that help support the nation’s bioeconomy,” argued NSC Alliance. “Research specimens connect us to the past, help address current problems, and enable us to predict and prepare for future threats to health, food security, and the environment. Shrinking budgets and workforce for agencies that provide critical support for scientific collections will strain our ability to address national challenges and remain a global leader in scientific discovery and innovation. We strongly urge Congress to prioritize sustained, robust investments in scientific collections – a truly irreplaceable resource.”
NSC Alliance urged appropriators to provide the National Museum of Natural History at the Smithsonian Institution with at least $60 million in FY 2026, with new funding to correct for a lack of adequate increases in recent years, and adequate funding for programs within Interior bureaus that support the preservation and use of scientific collections.
Read the testimony submitted to the House. An identical version will be sent to the Senate.