Overview
- The October 20–26, 2025 poll of 5,111 adults finds 84% say government investments in research are worthwhile, including 93% of Democrats and 76% of Republicans.
- About two-thirds of Democrats now say the U.S. is losing ground in science, up 28 points since 2023, while roughly one-third of Republicans agree.
- A slight majority of Republicans, 54%, say private investment alone would ensure sufficient scientific progress, compared with about one-fifth of Democrats.
- Partisans credit different engines of progress, with Democrats pointing to colleges and universities and Republicans more often citing private companies.
- Overall trust in science edged up from 76% in 2024 to 77% in 2025, even as the administration cut grants, reduced parts of the federal science and health workforce, and shifted priorities toward AI over climate research.