May 15, 2025
Dear ESA Member:
Today by 5pm, call your Congressperson in the House of Representatives or send a short email asking them to request robust funding for federal science agencies.
Why today by 5pm? Each Congressperson submits a formal request due Friday, May 16, to the House Appropriations Committee to request funding amounts for agencies and programs important to them, their constituents (you) and their district.
ESA urges you to WRITE a short message or CALL their DC Capitol Hill office with a short request.
- Dial the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to be connected to your Representative.
- Contact your federal Congressional delegation
Examples of Call or Email Scripts:
“I am a constituent and ask that Representative [NAME] request $9.9 billion in the FY26 federal budget for the National Science Foundation. My research at the University [NAME] is directly funded by NSF and we employ [X] students with those funds, allowing these students to pursue science degrees for future jobs in STEM. Thank you for including NSF in the Congressperson’s request to the House Appropriations Committee.”
“I am a constituent and ask that Representative [NAME] request full FY 26 funding for the USGS Ecosystems Mission Area at FY 25 funding levels. I am greatly concerned that the President’s budget request would zero out this important program. Our District [INSERT the importance of EMA to the District or an issue the Congressperson cares about]. Thank you for including the USGS Ecosystems Mission area in the Congressperson’s request to the House Appropriations Committee.”
(Visit the USGS Ecosystems Mission Area site to identify interests and include them in the email or call.)
“I am a constituent and ask that Representative [NAME] request full FY 26 funding for the EPA Office of Science at FY 25 funding levels. I am greatly concerned that the President’s budget request would cut this important program. Our District [INSERT the importance of the EPA to the District or an issue the Congressperson cares about]. Thank you for including EPA in the Congressperson’s request to the House Appropriations Committee.”
(Visit the EPA Office of Science site to identify interests and include them in the email or call.)
“I am a constituent and ask that Representative [NAME] request full FY 26 funding for the US Forest Service Office of Forest and Rangeland Research at FY 25 funding levels. I am greatly concerned that the President’s budget request would cut this important program. Our District [INSERT the importance of the program to the District or an issue the Congressperson cares about]. Thank you for including the Forest Service’s Office of Forest and Rangeland Research in the Congressperson’s request to the House Appropriations Committee.”
(Visit the US Forest Service site to identify interests and include them in the email or call.)
Create Your Own Script With This Template:
“I am a constituent and ask that Congressperson [NAME] request full FY 26 funding for the [Agency of Program] at FY 25 funding levels. I am greatly concerned that the President’s budget request would cut this important program. Our District [INSERT the importance of the AGENCY or program to the district or an issue the Congressperson cares about]. Thank you for including [AGENCY] in the Congressperson’s request to the House Appropriations Committee.”
Examples of drastic cuts proposed by the FY26 President’s Budget to key agencies:
- NSF: $3.9 billion, a 56% decrease
- EPA: $4.2 billion, a 54% decrease
- NOAA: $4.799 billion, a 24% decrease
- DOE, Office of Science: $7.092 billion, a 14% decrease
- NASA: $18.8 billion, a 24% decrease
- USFWS, Ecological Services: $251 million, a 12.8% decrease
- USFS, Forest & Rangeland Research (not including Forest Inventory Analysis): $0, a 100% decrease.
- USGS: $891 million, a 39% decrease
- The budget request “eliminates programs [within USGS] that provide grants to universities” and that focus on climate change, among other things.
We thank you for contacting federal and state lawmakers to ensure that FY26 appropriation bills restore funding for scientific research ― especially for ecological research.
Contact Director of Public Affairs Alison Mize with questions.
Thanks for your consideration,
ESA Public Affairs Office
More Resources:
- ESA Policy Toolkit: tools to make sure you’re well-equipped when talking with decision-makers
- View ESA’s “Communicating with Congress” webinar
- Contact your federal Congressional delegation: one Representative and two Senators
