Consumer advocacy groups are raising concerns that the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM), which relies heavily on federal funding, is allegedly using taxpayer dollars to advance various left-leaning initiatives like diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and transgender-related projects. This comes from a report by Consumers Research, which highlights instances of what they view as biased research and workshops funded by these federally chartered institutions.
Will Hild, the executive director of Consumers Research, criticized NASEM, labeling it a “radical woke organization” that disguises itself as a neutral educational body. He emphasized that a sizable portion of its budget comes from taxpayer money, which he claims is misused to promote what he considers a divisive agenda. He voiced strong sentiments about the misuse of funds, suggesting that millions have been spent supporting a highly polarizing ideology under the pretense of objectivity.
In another development, a shutdown bill signed by President Trump allocated $4 million to a children’s hospital currently under scrutiny for its transgender care practices.
The Consumers Research report accused NASEM of aligning itself with leftist transgender values, pointing to specific initiatives such as a workshop on supporting transgender youth and a publication that examines disparities affecting LGBTQ+ youth compared to their cisgender peers.
Moreover, the report found that NASEM has held various DEI workshops, some with controversial titles. For instance, one workshop focused on ‘Advancing Anti-Racism, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in STEMM Organizations,’ while another looked at the implementation of affirmative action in higher education without referencing race.
Interestingly, the National Academies previously collaborated with the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, providing substantial grants aimed at bolstering DEI contributions in biomedical research.
The organization also reacted to the 2020 Black Lives Matter movements by initiating a commission that assessed the potential impacts of reducing police budgets in communities, which led to accusations from committee members about police practices damaging low-income neighborhoods.
In other areas, various studies from NASEM have raised alarms about climate change, with one research effort aiming to enhance public engagement in climate initiatives.
NASEM has faced criticism for its previous climate reports, which some argued attempted to sway EPA regulations established during the Obama administration. Roger Pielke Jr., a policy expert, noted that national academies seem to have evolved into entities that prioritize the agendas of wealthy benefactors over their original mission.
Pielke pointed out that the Bezos Earth Fund, designed to address climate concerns, has supported NASEM in publishing materials related to environmental justice, suggesting potential biases related to funding sources. He raised concerns that the influences of financial backing might extend beyond mere funding, potentially compromising the integrity of research collaborations.
Fox News Digital has attempted to contact NASEM for clarification but has yet to receive a response.
