A new survey from the American Institute of Physics finds that 74% of physical scientists rank federal research funding as their top concern for the field's future, with public trust in science and artificial intelligence close behind. The findings, drawn from more than 2,000 respondents across AIP member organizations, reflect growing alarm over spending cuts and policy shifts under the second Trump administration.
The survey, conducted this summer, asked respondents to select up to three of the most important issues affecting the science and engineering enterprise. Federal funding led at 74%, followed by public trust in science at 61% and AI at 49%. Those concerns outpaced other issues such as the educational pipeline, climate change, research integrity, and access to opportunity in science. Among respondents who selected AI as a top concern, most said the technology could be both beneficial and detrimental.
Funding losses hit nearly one in five scientists
Nearly a fifth of respondents, 19%, reported losing funding for a planned activity such as a contract or grant because of recent policy changes. A smaller share said they had reduced work hours and responsibilities (4%), lost a job or position (2%), or retired or accepted a buyout earlier than planned (2%). Most respondents said changes in federal policy and funding had not affected their employment.
Kei Koizumi, a research professor at George Washington University's Institute for International Science and Technology Policy, said the results point to cuts spread across agencies. "Unfortunately, a lot of grants have been cut at DOE, NASA and NSF and that is what we are seeing in these responses. It's not all at NIH," he said.
International travel and recruitment disrupted
Policy changes since Jan. 20, 2025, have also reshaped international scientific engagement. Nearly three-quarters of respondents living in the US said the changes had negatively affected the country's ability to recruit international science and engineering talent. Among respondents living outside the US who had planned to attend a scientific meeting in the country, 59% said they had changed or canceled those plans due to visa and immigration policy changes.
Koizumi said physical scientists are "seeing the impact on science of the administration's immigration and visa policies," adding that researchers "recognize the harm to recruiting international talent happening in labs everywhere."
A workforce that spans disciplines
The survey also highlighted the interdisciplinary nature of the physical sciences workforce. About three-quarters of respondents reported at least one professional identity in addition to their primary one. Four in 10 identified as physicists in either a primary or secondary capacity, while nearly one in three identified as educators in some capacity.
Despite the funding losses and policy disruptions, respondents remained broadly positive about the field. More than half, 54%, said they would definitely encourage an interested and talented young person to pursue a career in the physical sciences. Koizumi called that finding encouraging: "I think that is encouraging; it suggests they see the current situation as a short-term one that we will get through."
Why this matters for science and research professionals
The survey quantifies what many working scientists have experienced firsthand since early 2025: grant cancellations, hiring freezes, and restricted international collaboration. If you work in the physical sciences, the data confirms you are not alone in facing these disruptions. The high ranking of AI as a concern also signals that researchers are weighing both the risks and the practical benefits of the technology-an area where structured guidance, such as an AI Learning Path for Research Scientists, can help clarify what's useful versus what's overhyped. For broader context on how AI intersects with research roles, the AI for Science & Research resource hub tracks developments relevant to this audience.
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