Fact Check: The National Science Foundation's proposed budget under the Trump administration would cut over $5 billion, or 57%, from its budget, reducing it from approximately $9 billion to $3.9 billion.

Fact Check: "The National Science Foundation's proposed budget under the Trump administration would cut over $5 billion, or 57%, from its budget, reducing it from approximately $9 billion to $3.9 billion."

What We Know

The claim regarding the proposed budget cuts to the National Science Foundation (NSF) under the Trump administration is based on official budget proposals released during his presidency. According to a report by Nature, President Trump proposed a significant budget cut to the NSF, reducing its funding from approximately $9 billion to $3.9 billion, which constitutes a cut of about 57%. This proposal was part of a broader plan that also included substantial cuts to other scientific agencies, such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and NASA.

Further corroboration comes from a statement by U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell and Chris Van Hollen, who noted that the proposed cuts amounted to a 55.8% reduction, bringing the NSF's budget down from $8.8 billion to $3.9 billion (Senate Commerce Committee). This aligns closely with the figures reported by other outlets, such as the New York Times, which also highlighted the drastic nature of these cuts.

Analysis

The evidence supporting the claim is robust, coming from multiple reputable sources that detail the proposed budget cuts. The Nature article provides a comprehensive overview of the implications of these cuts, emphasizing the potential impact on basic research funding and the overall health of scientific inquiry in the U.S. The proposed cuts would not only reduce the NSF's budget but also significantly affect grant funding success rates, which could drop from 26% to as low as 7% (Science).

While the proposed budget cuts were met with widespread criticism from the scientific community, it is important to note that the final budget must be approved by Congress, meaning that the proposed cuts may not be enacted as presented. However, the alarming nature of the proposed reductions has raised concerns about the future of U.S. scientific leadership (Washington Post).

The reliability of the sources used in this analysis is high. Publications like Nature, the New York Times, and Science are well-respected in the scientific and journalistic communities, providing fact-checked and peer-reviewed information. The statements from U.S. senators also add credibility, as they reflect the views of elected officials directly involved in science policy.

Conclusion

Verdict: True
The claim that the National Science Foundation's proposed budget under the Trump administration would cut over $5 billion, or 57%, from its budget, reducing it from approximately $9 billion to $3.9 billion, is accurate. This conclusion is supported by multiple credible sources detailing the proposed budget cuts and their implications for scientific research in the United States.

Sources

1. Trump moves to slash NSF: why are the proposed budget cuts so big? - Nature
2. Cantwell, Van Hollen and National Leaders in Science ...
3. Trump Has Cut Science Funding to Its Lowest Level in Decades - New York Times
4. Final NSF budget proposal jettisons one giant telescope amid ... - Science
5. Trump's proposed budget would mean 'disastrous' cuts to science - Science
6. National Science Foundation in turmoil amid DOGE cuts, leadership ... - Washington Post
7. New Details of Trump's Budget Cuts Alarm Researchers - Inside Higher Ed
8. NSF budget proposal slashes funding across the agency - Chemical & Engineering News