Maria Cantwell - Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation | Official U.S. Senate headshot
Maria Cantwell - Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation | Official U.S. Senate headshot
The U.S. Senate Commerce Committee, under the leadership of Ranking Member Ted Cruz (R-Texas), has released an investigative report examining how the National Science Foundation (NSF) allocates taxpayer funds intended for scientific research. The report indicates that more than a quarter of NSF spending is directed towards what it describes as left-wing ideological initiatives presented as "academic research." It highlights concerns about the radicalization within the scientific community and on American campuses, citing recent incidents of campus antisemitism.
The investigation by Senator Cruz found that following a directive from the Biden-Harris administration, which required all taxpayer-funded research and development to incorporate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) values, the NSF allocated over $2.05 billion to projects promoting neo-Marxist perspectives or DEI principles. According to the report, these funds were used for projects with questionable scientific value led by researchers advancing divisive ideologies in academic settings.
The committee's analysis identified 3,483 grants—representing over 10% of all NSF grants awarded during this administration—that totaled more than $2.05 billion for projects promoting DEI or neo-Marxist views on class struggle. These grants were categorized into Status, Social Justice, Gender, Race, and Environmental Justice.
Several examples from the report illustrate this point:
- Shirin Vossoughi at Northwestern University received a $1,034,751 grant in 2023 for a project titled “Reimagining Educator Learning Pathways Through Storywork for Racial Equity in STEM.” Vossoughi attributes her teaching approach to Marxist traditions.
- Kelly Cross at Georgia Institute of Technology was awarded $99,791 in 2023 to address "Whiteness and White Supremacy" in STEM education and foster national discussions on racial inequity.
- Tammie Visintainer at San Jose State University received $401,744 in 2022 for a project aiming to empower students as climate justice action researchers.
The report notes that some institutions like the University of Texas at Austin have recognized potential downsides of DEI efforts and have shifted their focus back to teaching and research. It concludes with recommendations for Congress to prohibit federal funding to institutions allowing discrimination or violating anti-discrimination laws and urges NSF to discontinue DEI policies implemented under the current administration.
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