David Patterson, a distinguished figure in computer science known for his pioneering contributions to RISC and RAID architecture, a Turing Award laureate, and a Distinguished Engineer at Google, has issued a stark warning regarding proposed cuts to the National Science Foundation (NSF) funding. In an op-ed published in The Hill, Patterson argues that such reductions threaten the future of American innovation and economic prosperity, citing the immense returns generated by past public investments in fundamental research.
Patterson highlighted the historical impact of government funding, stating, > "Virtually every smartphone on the planet runs on a chip paid for by American taxpayers \u2014 a chip that I helped invent." He detailed that a modest investment of just under $100 million in the labs he helped lead ultimately generated over $1 trillion in product sales, representing a staggering 10,000-to-1 return on investment to the public, with at least a 1,000-to-1 return directly back to the government in taxes. He emphasized that these breakthroughs were not from corporate boardrooms but from publicly funded research.
The warning comes amidst significant proposed budget reductions for the NSF. Reports indicate the Trump administration's preliminary budget request for fiscal year 2026 seeks to cut the agency's funding by 50-55%, down from its $9 billion budget. For fiscal year 2025, a 23% reduction has been proposed. These cuts have already led to the termination of hundreds, and potentially over a thousand, research grants, staff reductions, and the abrupt resignation of NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan.
Concerns are mounting within the scientific community that these cuts will severely hamper the United States' competitive edge. Patterson expressed his alarm, stating, > "As a scientist, I
am scared. As a taxpayer, I
am livid. We built a lead. Now Washington is ready to give it away." The administration's budget priorities reportedly aim to reduce funding for areas like climate science and social sciences, while maintaining support for artificial intelligence and quantum information science.
While the House of Representatives has proposed a 23% cut, the Senate has indicated a much smaller reduction, signaling potential congressional pushback against the administration's more drastic proposals. However, the uncertainty surrounding NSF funding has prompted fears of a "brain drain," with a generation of scientific talent potentially being lost to overseas competitors, undermining the nation's long-term economic and technological leadership.