Trump Proposes Massive 55% Cut to NSF Budget, Dissolves Social Sciences Division in 2027 Budget Plan

For the second consecutive year, the Trump administration has proposed sweeping cuts to US science agency budgets. The 2027 plan would slash the National Science Foundation (NSF) by 55%, cut the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) by more than 50%, and dissolve the NSF's Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences directorate entirely.

The Proposed Cuts

Meanwhile, military spending would increase 44% to $1.5 trillion.

What Gets Cut

National Science Foundation:

• 55% budget reduction to $4 billion
• Complete elimination of Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences directorate
• Basic AI research funding cut by 32%
• Basic quantum research funding cut by 37%

Environmental Protection Agency:

• More than 50% budget reduction
• Impacts climate research and environmental monitoring

Academic Publishing:

• Ban on federal funds for journal subscriptions and publishing fees
• Could restrict open-access publishing by federally-funded researchers

What Gets Protected

Despite overall cuts, some areas see increases:

• Applied quantum research at defense and energy departments
• Applied AI research for national security applications
• Military budget increases by 44%

Historical Context

This is the second year of proposed science cuts:

• 2026: Congress rejected similar proposals, restoring most funding
• Likely outcome: Congress is expected to push back again
• November elections: Congressional elections on November 3 complicate budget negotiations
• Congress decides: The president proposes, but Congress controls the purse strings

What This Means

• NSF social sciences: Entire field faces elimination from federal funding
• Environmental science: Major setback for climate and environmental research
• International competitiveness: Cuts to basic research could hurt US science leadership
• Academic publishing: Federal publishing ban could reshape how research is shared