Americans Still Back Science Despite Political Divide

When it comes to supporting science, Americans are speaking with their hearts and their wallets.

A new Pew Research Center report reveals that 84% of Americans believe federal investments in science are worthwhile, a powerful show of unity in an increasingly divided political landscape. The survey of more than 5,000 people shows that support for science funding has remained strong across party lines for years.

But the survey also uncovered a striking shift in how Democrats and Republicans view America's scientific standing. Between 2023 and 2025, the proportion of Democrats who believe the U.S. is losing ground in science jumped by 28 percentage points. About two thirds of Democrats now hold this view, while Republicans have become more optimistic about the country's scientific leadership.

"Now we see this much bigger difference between Republicans and Democrats in our relative standing in science compared to other countries," says Brian Kennedy, a senior researcher at Pew who authored the report. Just two years ago, both groups were within 7 percentage points of each other.

Despite differing views on America's standing, there's remarkable agreement on what should happen next. A majority of Americans believe it's important for the U.S. to be a world leader in science, a sentiment that has actually grown five percentage points since 2023.

The Bright Side

Even though public trust in science took a hit during the COVID pandemic and hasn't fully recovered, scientists remain among the most trusted groups in American society. For the past decade, Pew surveys have consistently ranked scientists at the top alongside the military, far above elected officials.

That trust translates into action. Lawmakers from both parties have advanced several legislative efforts to restore targeted federal funding for science agencies, showing that support for research crosses political divides when it comes to actual policy.

The survey also found interesting nuances in how different groups approach scientific progress. Republican voters showed more openness to private companies playing a key role in science, while Democrats leaned toward public investment. But both paths lead to the same destination: more support for scientific advancement.

Americans aren't just saying they support science—they're demonstrating it through consistent backing for federal research funding year after year.