A new poll conducted by Knowledge for a Competitive America, KCA, in coordination with North Star Opinion Research and Global Strategy Group, GSG, finds that Alabamians largely oppose extreme cuts to federal spending on scientific research into the earth’s weather and climate.
The survey, conducted among representative samples of 1,200 likely 2026 voters from across Alabama, Kansas and North Carolina, asked participants about a hypothetical proposal to cut all federal funding for weather and climate research. The study looks to shed light on public opinion related to the Trump administration’s continued efforts to gut critical agencies including the National Weather Service, NWS; the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NOAA; and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA.
In general, respondents from all three states indicated support for scientific research into weather and climate, noting its importance for maintaining America’s global leadership, national security and economic prosperity. Eighty-one percent of Alabama’s respondents indicated that they believe it is important for the government to fund scientific research that helps better predict extreme weather, while 85 percent agreed that America’s position as a global leader depends on continued scientific research and innovation.
Respondents also indicated overwhelming disapproval of any proposal to cut all federal funding for scientific research into the earth’s weather and climate, with 63 percent of Alabama’s respondents opposing the proposal compared to only 29 percent who said they would support such a policy. After being primed with arguments both for and against the proposal, Alabamians remained in net opposition to any such cuts.
Additionally, 48 percent of Alabamian respondents indicated that they would view their U.S. senators–Tommy Tuberville and Katie Britt–less favorably if they voted for such a proposal. Thirty-four percent said their favorability of Tuberville and Britt would not change in such a scenario, while only 17 percent stated that their opinions of the senators would improve if they voted for such cuts.
“This survey reveals what many Americans have already known – scientific research makes the U.S. more competitive, prosperous, and secure,” said Pamitha Weerasinghe, campaign director for Knowledge of a Competitive America. “Despite today’s polarized political environment, it is clear that gutting scientific research programs is deeply unpopular on a bipartisan basis, and voters want policymakers to protect the federal programs and products that keep the American economy growing and strong.”
Knowledge for a Competitive America, the group behind the survey, is a self-described “nonpartisan campaign to preserve, strengthen, and elevate essential federal science products and services that drive U.S. innovation and competitiveness in the aviation, aerospace, real estate, and agriculture industries.”
The survey took place between July 31 and August 7, 2025, with interviews conducted by telephone, an online survey and a web-based panel.
