A group of Republican representatives recently urged the Trump administration to look into the possibility of cutting taxpayer funding for the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. They claim the institution, which operates under Congressional charter, exhibits bias and promotes “leftist” agendas.
This call to action was led by Rep. Eric Burleson (R-Missouri), who particularly criticized the latest chapter on climate change in the National Academies’ “Reference Manual on Scientific Evidence.” This manual is often referenced by judges when assessing scientific and statistical evidence during trials.
The lawmakers expressed concern in a letter to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and Budget Director Russ Vought, stating, “The highly politicized chapter on climate science…clearly aims to sway judges in critical climate-related cases.”
They requested an investigation into whether the National Academies might have breached President Trump’s executive order intended to “restore the gold standard in science” across federal agencies. They also referenced federal grant guidelines that require transparency about “significant financial interests” that might influence research outcomes.
The representatives argued that the chapter on climate change signifies that the organization has succumbed to “ideological capture” by a partisan agenda, suggesting that it favors left-leaning narratives over factual reporting.
“What’s most alarming is the absence of thorough, independent peer review by scientists representing contrasting views on climate science,” the lawmakers contended, noting that the chapter predominantly features contributions from three individuals linked to Columbia University’s Climate Science Institute.
They pointed out that these academics received funding from organizations involved in numerous climate change lawsuits, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest.
The letter additionally highlighted that the National Academies receives backing from groups known for their climate change advocacy, such as the ClimateWorks Foundation and the Tides Foundation, which has ties to political financier George Soros.
“Furthermore, NASEM itself contributes funds to climate change advocacy organizations,” the correspondence elaborated. Burleson and his colleagues referred to a grant from the Biden administration’s Department of Transportation that allocated $84 million in taxpayer funds to the National Academies in 2024.
They are advocating for a reassessment of federal support. “Americans are fed up with seeing their tax dollars used to promote political agendas,” Burleson stated. “When government-funded entities mingle research with advocacy, it undermines trust and demands accountability.”
Other signatories of the letter include Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colorado), Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pennsylvania), and several others from various states.
The White House Office of Management and Budget, the Department of Transportation, and the National Academies have not yet responded to requests for their thoughts on the matter.
