How $2 Billion Was Diverted from Science to Ideology: Poisoning of the National Science Foundation

From the outset, the Biden-Harris regime set its sights on politicizing every aspect of American governance, including the realm of scientific research. The National Science Foundation (NSF), once a proud steward of American ingenuity and objective inquiry, is now a compromised institution, hamstrung by the divisive doctrines of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). The NSF, under the Biden-Harris regime, has shifted billions of taxpayer dollars from pure scientific inquiry to ideological crusades, and America First Legal (AFL) is now fighting for transparency and accountability from this corrupted agency.

A Radical Shift in Priorities

In January 2021, the Biden-Harris White House issued a memorandum on “Restoring Trust in Government Through Scientific Integrity and Evidence-Based Policymaking.” This seemingly innocuous directive belied a more sinister agenda: injecting leftist ideological priorities into the heart of federal scientific research. The newly established task force on “scientific integrity” directed all federal science agencies, including the NSF, to embed Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) into “all aspects of science planning, execution, and communication.” Such demands shifted the focus of the NSF away from its traditional mandate — to fund groundbreaking research in fields like physics, chemistry, and engineering — toward subjective, politically motivated initiatives.

The results of this ideological shift are staggering. According to a groundbreaking report released by U.S. Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee Ranking Member Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), over $2.05 billion in federal funding has been redirected to projects that promote DEI or endorse neo-Marxist perspectives on social justice. An analysis of 32,198 Prime Award grants issued by NSF between January 2021 and April 2024 reveals that, while in 2021, only 0.29% of new grants emphasized DEI, by 2024, more than a quarter (27%) did. These grants, totaling more than $2 billion, not only diverted funds from true scientific endeavors but also paved the way for ideological subversion within the scientific community.

The Senate report provides numerous examples of how these funds were misused, including projects to “decolonize geoscience” at Columbia University and “intersectional learning ecosystems” at Arizona State University aimed at promoting “gendered racial equity in artificial intelligence.” These projects are emblematic of a broader agenda that substitutes the quest for knowledge with politically charged dogma.

The Pursuit of Accountability

Following the release of Senator Cruz’s report, America First Legal launched its own investigation into the NSF’s conduct, highlighting how deeply politicized the agency has become. AFL filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request on May 9, 2023, demanding records related to the political leadership and decision-making processes within NSF that led to these grants. This request aimed to uncover the backgrounds of the individuals appointed by the Biden-Harris White House and ensure the American people knew the extent of partisan influence over federally funded research.

Yet, in a stark display of bureaucratic obstruction, the NSF has refused to provide a substantive response to AFL’s request. Consequently, AFL filed a lawsuit on October 30, 2024, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to compel the NSF to comply with the FOIA request and produce the requested documents. According to AFL’s complaint, the NSF has failed to conduct searches for responsive records and violated the statutory time limits under FOIA. AFL’s lawsuit asserts that the NSF’s stonewalling serves to conceal the true extent of political cronyism and corruption within the agency.

The lawsuit seeks a court order requiring the NSF to release all non-exempt records, accompanied by a “Vaughn index,” which would list any documents withheld and explain the basis for each withholding. AFL’s goal is simple: to shine a light on how the Biden-Harris regime has used the NSF as a vehicle to promote anti-intellectual, anti-science, and anti-American ideologies.

The Implications for Science and Society

The consequences of these actions are profound and dangerous. By directing billions of taxpayer dollars towards ideological projects, the Biden-Harris NSF has jeopardized America’s leadership in scientific research and innovation. Instead of supporting projects that aim to tackle pressing challenges — like renewable energy, next-generation materials, or advanced AI — the NSF has chosen to fund projects that “deconstruct systems of oppression in science” or explore “the impacts of colonialism on environmental decision-making.” Such research might win favor with left-wing academics, but it does nothing to secure America’s economic or scientific future.

Furthermore, this corruption of science is destroying public trust. As AFL’s lawsuit progresses, it is vital that the full extent of the NSF’s corruption under the Biden-Harris regime be revealed. Only then can we begin the difficult process of depoliticizing America’s once-great institutions of research and ensuring that taxpayer money is spent advancing knowledge rather than promoting political indoctrination.

Conclusion

The Biden-Harris regime’s poisoning of the NSF with DEI initiatives is part of a broader attempt to reshape every aspect of the federal government to fit a partisan agenda. America First Legal’s lawsuit represents a critical effort to restore accountability, transparency, and objectivity to American scientific research. If left unchecked, this trend will not only undermine our scientific capabilities but also erode the foundational values of meritocracy and unbiased inquiry that have defined American innovation for generations.

We must turn the page on this corruption of science. Another four years of under Harris-Walz regime, would be devastating for science in this country. The battle for the soul of American science is underway, and it’s crucial that those who care about truth and progress stand firm against the forces of politicization. The stakes are too high for complacency.

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