The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM), a congressionally chartered institution receiving approximately 70% of its budget from federal sources, has faced criticism from Consumers’ Research, a consumer watchdog group. The organization accused NASEM of utilizing taxpayer funds to support initiatives promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), transgender youth healthcare, and climate advocacy.
According to Consumers’ Research’s “Woke Alert” report, NASEM has engaged in a range of activities—including research projects, workshops, and grant programs—that reflect what the watchdog describes as left-leaning priorities. The report highlights NASEM’s sponsorship of workshops such as “Supporting the Health and Well-Being of Transgender and Gender Diverse Youth” and “Advancing Antiracism, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in STEMM Organizations: Current Context and Challenges.” It also references a 2022 partnership with the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, which distributed grants exceeding $1 million each to promote DEI among biomedical researchers.
Will Hild, executive director of Consumers’ Research, characterized NASEM as “a radical woke organization masquerading as a nonpartisan educational institution.” He argued in a statement to Fox News that the group has “shamefully used hundreds of millions in taxpayer dollars to push a highly polarized woke agenda behind lofty BS rhetoric about independence and objectivity.”
Separately, NASEM’s Committee on Reducing Racial Inequalities in the Criminal Justice System, established in response to the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests, considered proposals such as reallocating $50 million from Austin, Texas’s police budget. According to the report, the committee’s co-chair, Bruce Western, accused police officers of causing harm in communities of color. Furthermore, a NASEM study labeled law enforcement as a “leading cause of death for young men in the United States,” underscoring the institution’s engagement with policing issues.
NASEM has also produced studies on climate change, including efforts to promote public participation in climate activism and a 2025 climate review intended to inform the Environmental Protection Agency’s decisions regarding greenhouse gas regulations. Critics have suggested that these activities may reflect ideological stances, although NASEM maintains its commitment to scientific integrity.
The question of funding sources and potential conflicts of interest has been raised by observers such as Roger Pielke Jr., a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. Pielke noted to Fox News that NASEM’s funding from philanthropic entities like the Bezos Earth Fund—an organization known to support climate litigation—could introduce “pretty strong evidence of a bias.” He cautioned that concerns about impartiality extend beyond funding to research collaborations and institutional partnerships.
Why it matters
The debate over NASEM’s activities centers on the appropriate use of federal funds in scientific and policy research, particularly when institutions with government backing engage with socially and politically sensitive topics. Given NASEM’s influential role in advising federal agencies and shaping public policy, questions about partisanship or ideological bias carry significance for public trust and the formulation of evidence-based policy.
Observing how federally funded bodies balance independence with accountability remains an ongoing issue in American governance, especially as political polarization affects perceptions of science and policy expertise. For policymakers and the public, understanding the scope and orientation of federally supported research institutions may inform decisions about funding priorities and oversight mechanisms.
Background
NASEM operates under a congressional charter, tasked with providing impartial and expert advice on science, engineering, and health matters to the federal government. Its funding model relies heavily on federal appropriations, supplemented by grants and private donations. The institution’s reports and recommendations often influence decisions made by agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency, health departments, and research funders.
The rise of contentious subjects like DEI programs, transgender healthcare, and climate policy in recent years has intensified scrutiny of organizations like NASEM. Critics argue that some initiatives may reflect ideological agendas rather than neutral scientific inquiry, while supporters contend that these efforts address urgent social inequities and environmental challenges through rigorous research. This dynamic situates NASEM at the intersection of science and politics, with implications for how the public interprets expert advice.
Moving forward, stakeholders will likely monitor how congressional oversight, institutional governance, and funding structures evolve in response to these critiques and the broader political environment.
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