People Overwhelmingly Assist Science, however Some Suppose the U.S. Is Lagging Behind
A brand new report finds {that a} majority of People assume the U.S. ought to be a world chief in science, however Democrats more and more consider different nations are catching up
Houston Chronicle/Hearst Newspapers / Contributor through Getty Photos
People are happy with their nation’s science prowess: a majority consider it is necessary for the U.S. to be a world chief in science, in accordance with the Pew Analysis Heart’s newest report on belief in science.
The quantity of people that maintain this view is 5 proportion factors larger than it was in 2023, the final time Pew requested the identical query, in accordance with knowledge from greater than 5,000 folks surveyed in October 2025.
However individuals who voted Democratic within the 2024 presidential election tended to carry a really completely different view than Republican voters on whether or not the nation resides as much as its promise. Between 2023 and 2025, the proportion of Democrats who consider that the U.S. is shedding floor in science in contrast with different nations jumped by 28 proportion factors. About two thirds of Democrats now maintain this view.
On supporting science journalism
In the event you’re having fun with this text, contemplate supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By buying a subscription you’re serving to to make sure the way forward for impactful tales concerning the discoveries and concepts shaping our world at this time.
Republicans are extra constructive concerning the nation’s standing in science—an entire swap in sentiment for the reason that final time Pew requested this query, says Brian Kennedy, one of many authors of the brand new report and a senior researcher on the Pew Analysis Heart. And the break up between each teams is much wider than it was at earlier instances when Pew requested the identical query previously 5 years, he says.
In 2022 and 2023 the distinction between Democratic and Republican opinion was “way more modest,” Kennedy says, with each teams responses’ inside 7 proportion factors of one another. “Now we see this a lot greater distinction between Republicans and Democrats in our relative standing in science in comparison with different nations.”
Amanda Montañez; Supply: Do People Suppose the Nation Is Shedding or Gaining Floor in Science? Pew Analysis Heart, January 15, 2026 (knowledge)
Final 12 months the Trump administration lower federal funding for science. The administration slashed thousands and thousands of {dollars} in grants for science throughout myriad disciplines and walked again its personal analysis and laws based mostly on science, significantly within the areas of local weather change and well being and drugs. In the meantime specialists have warned of a “mind drain,” partly motivated by the administration’s strict immigration insurance policies, with researchers selecting to review or dwell abroad as a substitute of within the U.S.
Regardless of these cuts, nearly all of People—84 p.c—thought federal investments in science geared toward advancing information have been worthwhile. Republican voters, nonetheless, have been extra probably than their left-leaning friends to be open to personal corporations enjoying a key position in science, Kennedy says.
“One factor we’ve seen in our surveys over various years is that help for science funding is fairly widespread amongst each Republicans to Democrats,” he says. “It is a fairly constant discovering.”
Certainly, lawmakers on either side of the aisle have superior a number of legislative efforts to claw again a few of the focused federal funding for science companies.
In the end, the report reveals that People’ belief in science and scientists stays broadly sturdy—however not as sturdy because it was earlier than the COVID pandemic. Throughout 2020 and 2021, public belief cratered. And whereas it has recovered considerably, it stays decrease than it was earlier than that interval.
“There’s a broader context of belief and confidence happening in society,” Kennedy says. Nonetheless, he factors out that Pew survey members have constantly ranked scientists among the many most reliable teams in society for the previous 10 years. “Scientists have constantly ranked towards the highest with the navy, whereas elected officers typically have been ranked towards the underside,” he says.
It’s Time to Stand Up for Science
In the event you loved this text, I’d prefer to ask on your help. Scientific American has served as an advocate for science and business for 180 years, and proper now stands out as the most important second in that two-century historical past.
I’ve been a Scientific American subscriber since I used to be 12 years outdated, and it helped form the best way I take a look at the world. SciAm at all times educates and delights me, and conjures up a way of awe for our huge, stunning universe. I hope it does that for you, too.
In the event you subscribe to Scientific American, you assist be sure that our protection is centered on significant analysis and discovery; that we now have the assets to report on the choices that threaten labs throughout the U.S.; and that we help each budding and dealing scientists at a time when the worth of science itself too usually goes unrecognized.
In return, you get important information, fascinating podcasts, sensible infographics, can’t-miss newsletters, must-watch movies, difficult video games, and the science world’s greatest writing and reporting. You may even reward somebody a subscription.
There has by no means been a extra necessary time for us to face up and present why science issues. I hope you’ll help us in that mission.
