Last Updated on March 31, 2026, 9:25 am ET
A record number of advocates from 24 US states met with members of Congress during the Consortium of Social Science Associations (COSSA) annual Social Science Advocacy Day on March 24. One common theme across these meetings was appreciation for the bipartisan rejection of deep cuts to federal research funding proposed by the Trump administration. Participants emphasized the need for continued support as the FY 2027 appropriations process gets underway. Advocates also voiced concerns about the slow pace of new grant awards as well as proposed administrative requirements that may deter some organizations from pursuing federal funding at all.
I joined social science students and faculty from Boston University and Suffolk University for meetings with the Massachusetts congressional delegation. In our discussions, I highlighted the importance of sustained federal investment and freedom from political interference for federal statistical agencies, whose data products enable longitudinal and cross-disciplinary research. Thanks to ARL’s advocacy within COSSA, the materials provided to congressional offices also included a concrete budget request of $300 million for the Institute of Museum and Library Services, whose National Leadership Grants for Libraries and Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program support innovative research and training at many ARL institutions.
Ameet Doshi, head of the Donald E. Stokes Library at Princeton University, also represented ARL’s member libraries at Social Science Advocacy Day. “In meetings with members of the New Jersey congressional delegation and their staff,” Doshi reported, “my colleagues and I highlighted how social science research drives evidence‑based policymaking, from better understanding the effects of artificial intelligence on society to improving educational outcomes and strengthening public health. I emphasized the critical role libraries play in this ecosystem, providing the data, collections, and research support that make impactful scholarship possible. These substantive conversations reinforced to me the value of direct engagement by librarians in making the case for social science as an essential public investment.”
ARL is a proud member of COSSA, a nonprofit advocacy organization working to promote and advance the social and behavioral sciences in federal policymaking in the United States. Headquartered in Washington, DC, COSSA serves as a united voice for organizations, institutions, communities, and stakeholders who care about a successful and vibrant social science research enterprise. COSSA’s policy experts work with a broad network of advocates to ensure sustainable federal funding for social and behavioral science research and the widespread use of this research in policymaking.
