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A consumer watchdog organization has accused the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine of misusing federal funds to support various progressive initiatives, according to a new investigative report.
Consumers’ Research, in its recently released “Woke Alert” report, claims the congressionally chartered institution has allocated taxpayer dollars toward projects involving transgender youth, diversity and inclusion programs, policing reforms, and climate advocacy efforts. The organization, which receives approximately 70% of its budget from federal funding, is facing scrutiny for what critics describe as politically motivated research.
“From pushing transgender ideology onto kids to spreading ‘defund the police’ insanity, this taxpayer-supported organization regularly abuses its status and reputation to fund the left’s favorite causes,” said Will Hild, executive director of Consumers’ Research, in a statement. Hild characterized the National Academies as “a radical woke organization masquerading as a nonpartisan educational institution.”
The report highlights several publications and workshops as evidence of what it considers left-leaning bias, including sessions titled “Supporting the Health and Well-Being of Transgender and Gender Diverse Youth” and “Reducing Inequalities Between Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Adolescents and Cisgender, Heterosexual Adolescents.”
Additionally, Consumers’ Research points to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives run by the National Academies, such as workshops focused on “Advancing Antiracism, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in STEMM Organizations” and efforts to implement alternative approaches to affirmative action following recent Supreme Court decisions.
The report also notes that in 2022, the National Academies partnered with the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative to distribute grants worth $1.15 million per recipient to promote DEI among biomedical researchers, representing a significant financial commitment to these programs.
Following the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests, the National Academies established its Committee on Reducing Racial Inequalities in the Criminal Justice System. According to the report, this committee evaluated a proposal to reduce Austin, Texas’s police budget by $50 million. Committee co-chair Bruce Western allegedly stated that police officers have “caused a great deal of harm in low-income communities and communities of color.”
The watchdog group further claims that NASEM research has characterized police officers as a “leading cause of death for young men in the United States,” language that critics view as inflammatory and politically charged.
Climate change represents another area of contention. The report alleges that the National Academies has published multiple studies not only raising concerns about climate change but specifically focusing on techniques to increase public participation in climate activism. In August 2025, NASEM reportedly faced criticism for publishing a climate review that some saw as an attempt to influence the Environmental Protection Agency’s decision-making process during the Trump administration.
Roger Pielke Jr., a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute specializing in science and technology policy, noted that the National Academies has evolved from operating under congressional direction to becoming an “independent actor” representing the interests of wealthy donors and foundations.
Pielke specifically mentioned NASEM’s relationship with the Bezos Earth Fund, a climate initiative created by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. With financial support from this fund, the National Academies published “Constructing Valid Geospatial Tools for Environmental Justice,” which Pielke suggests demonstrates bias. The Bezos Earth Fund is known to support climate change litigation, raising questions about objectivity.
“Issues about conflicts of interest and bias go well beyond just funding sources,” Pielke said. “They also extend to the groups researchers choose to partner with when conducting work that is supposed to be neutral and scientific.”
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, established by congressional charter to provide independent, objective advice on matters of science and technology, did not respond to requests for comment regarding these allegations.
This controversy highlights ongoing tensions regarding the role of federally funded scientific institutions and questions about political neutrality in research initiatives addressing contentious social and environmental issues.
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8 Comments
As a taxpayer, I want my money going towards rigorous, unbiased scientific work – not politically-motivated agendas. The National Academies need to demonstrate they are upholding their mission.
Hmm, this is a tricky issue. On one hand, the National Academies should maintain objectivity. But on the other, topics like climate change and social equity are deeply intertwined with science. Striking the right balance is crucial.
This is an interesting development in the debate around the role of government-funded institutions. While diversity and inclusion are important, they shouldn’t come at the expense of the Academies’ core scientific mandate.
I’m curious to learn more about the specifics of the Consumers’ Research allegations. Are there clear examples of misused funds or is this more of a perception issue? Objective evaluation is needed.
Good point. The report seems to highlight specific publications and workshops, so it would be worthwhile to examine those in detail before drawing conclusions.
While diversity and inclusion efforts are important, the National Academies should focus its federal funding on core scientific research rather than controversial political topics. Taxpayers deserve accountability.
I’m a bit skeptical of the ‘radical woke’ label applied here. This seems like a complex issue that deserves nuanced analysis, not partisan rhetoric. Let’s look at the facts objectively.
This is a concerning report if true. Taxpayer-funded institutions should remain impartial and avoid politically-charged initiatives. More transparency around the National Academies’ funding allocations would be helpful.