Stand Up for Science releases first report on rebuilding the U.S. science ecosystem

Stand Up for Science has published the first installment of its multi-part report, assessing how the U.S. scientific ecosystem was reshaped and outlining a path to rebuild it. The analysis says the system has lost 100,000 federal science employees and will roll out additional sections through early 2027.

Why it matters: - The report argues the U.S. science system needs rebuilding after years of policy changes, funding cuts and institutional strain. - The analysis frames science as a public good and says the work is meant to guide a more resilient research ecosystem for decades. - The report also documents a loss of 100,000 federal science employees, a hit that affects government research capacity and expertise.

What happened: - Stand Up for Science released the first part of its new report, Forging the Future of Science and Democracy, on Oct. 8, 2026. - The first installment is titled “How We Got Here: Strategies and Tactics.” - The section examines the current state of the U.S. scientific ecosystem and maps the players and playbook behind the changes. - Stand Up for Science Foundation’s research and policy team researched and wrote the report. - The report is available to view and download on the Stand Up for Science Foundation site.

The details: - The first section covers five major areas. - Those areas include the players involved and their motivations. - The report also examines the restructuring of the administrative state. - The analysis covers the loss of scientific expertise. - It also chronicles changes at federal science agencies and losses of scientific positions. - Dr. Colette Delawalla, CEO and founder of Stand Up for Science, said the last two years have brought “unprecedented efforts to change policy, quash scientific progress, and dismantle research funding and programs.” - Delawalla said the report aims to show who led the changes and how in order to understand how the situation developed. - Delawalla also said assumptions of good faith no longer hold. - The broader report says its goal is to prioritize science as a public good, rectify injustices and address systemic vulnerabilities.

Between the lines: - The report is not just a record of damage; it is also a political and institutional diagnosis of how the science sector was weakened. - By focusing on strategies, tactics and motivations, Stand Up for Science is signaling that the problem is structural, not temporary. - The emphasis on accountability suggests the organization sees rebuilding science as tied to naming responsibility for past decisions.

What’s next: - Stand Up for Science plans to release the remaining sections of Forging the Future through early 2027. - Future sections will focus on Accountability, Deconstruction and Reconstruction. - Delawalla is available for comment and media appearances.

The bottom line: - Stand Up for Science is using its first major report to argue that rebuilding U.S. science will require both a clear accounting of past damage and a long-term plan to restore resilience.