The Natural Science Collections Alliance has submitted testimony to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, requesting Congress to provide the National Science Foundation with at least $9.9 billion in FY 2026. The testimony highlights the importance and role of natural history collections in improving public health, agricultural productivity, natural resource management, biodiversity conservation, and American economic innovation and productivity.
“Scientific collections supported by NSF contribute to improved public well-being and national economic security,” reads the testimony. “These collections—irreplaceable records of our nation’s natural heritage—contain specimens collected decades or even centuries ago. Today, they are essential for developing and validating models that track the global spread of species, including viruses, parasites, and pathogens, and help us understand their potential to impact human health now and in the future.”
“NSF received an 8% budget cut in FY 2024 and only flat funding in FY 2025—figures that fall far short of the bipartisan vision outlined in the CHIPS and Science Act,” noted NSC Alliance. “That landmark legislation recognized the importance of biological collections, called for a national collections action center, and authorized NSF funding to grow to $17.8 billion in FY 2026. Yet, current funding remains well below this target. Furthermore, the President’s FY 2026 budget proposal includes a 57% cut to NSF, a move that would severely undermine our nation’s ability to lead in science, technology, and innovation. Enacting such a drastic reduction would squander decades of progress and erode our global competitiveness.”
Read the testimony submitted to the House. An identical version was submitted to the Senate.