For the second time in the fiscal year 2025 appropriations cycle, the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate have agreed to a short-term funding measure to avert a government shutdown.
With yet another temporary solution, the future of U.S. science remains in jeopardy. AGU urgently calls on lawmakers to prioritize stability and investment in scientific research by passing a robust and sustainable budget for fiscal year 2025.
Budget impasses threaten critical scientific endeavors and the communities that depend on them. If a government shutdown occurs, research efforts by land, sea, and air will face delays or cancellations, endangering vital discoveries about our changing world. Public health and environmental monitoring will be interrupted, with inspections of drinking water, chemical facilities, and hazardous waste sites suspended. Federal websites providing essential data on climate change and other pressing issues will go dark, leaving researchers without access to critical information.
A prolonged shutdown risks undermining global leadership in science and innovation, weakening both economic competitiveness and our ability to address pressing societal challenges.
AGU stands united with the scientific community in calling for a fully operational government that supports science as a cornerstone of national security and progress.
Sincerely,
Lisa J. Graumlich, Ph.D.
2023-2024 AGU President
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