Comment on "Politicizing science funding undermines public trust in science, academic freedom, and the unbiased generation of knowledge"

TL;DR

This paper critically examines claims of politicization in U.S. science funding, debunks unsupported assertions, and documents diversity initiatives to counter misinformation amid rising opposition to diversity efforts.

Contribution

It provides fact-checked analysis of claims about politicization and offers a detailed account of diversity policies in U.S. science funding at the end of 2024.

Findings

Many claims in the criticized commentary are unsupported or debunked.

Diversity and inclusion plans for U.S. science grants are documented as of late 2024.

The paper serves as a factual counter to misinformation about science funding politicization.

Abstract

In a commentary published in mid-2024 (to which the present work is a direct response), a number of scientists argue that U.S. funding agencies have "politicized" the process by which grants are awarded, in service of diversifying the scientific workforce. The commentary in question, however, makes numerous unfounded assertions while recycling citations to a fusillade of opinion essays written by the same cabal of authors, in an effort to resemble a work of serious scholarship. Basic fact-checking is provided here, demonstrating numerous claims that are unsupported by the source material and readily debunked. The present work also serves to document the reality of inclusion and diversity plans for scientific grant proposals to U.S. funding agencies, as they existed at the end of 2024. It is intended as a bulwark against retroactive false narratives, as the U.S. moves into a period of intense antagonism towards diversity, equity, and inclusion activities.