Watchdog Accuses National Academies of Pushing Left-Leaning Agenda with Taxpayer Funds

Consumers' Research issues 'Woke Alert' against NASEM, citing DEI, transgender, and climate initiatives.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 8:06pm

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A heavily textured, fragmented painting in shades of blue, grey, and red depicting overlapping, repeated images of political symbols like a gavel, scales of justice, and a government building, conveying a sense of polarization and conflict over the use of public resources.A fractured, abstract painting captures the political tensions surrounding the use of taxpayer funds by a government research institution.Austin Today

A consumer watchdog group, Consumers' Research, has accused the federally funded National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) of using taxpayer dollars to support left-leaning initiatives related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), transgender ideology, and climate advocacy. The group's 'Woke Alert' report claims NASEM has established an allegiance with transgender ideology and has run various DEI workshops, as well as partnered with the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative to promote DEI among biomedical researchers. The report also highlights NASEM's work on issues like policing and climate change, which the watchdog group says reflects a 'highly polarized woke agenda'.

Why it matters

This report raises concerns about the use of taxpayer funds by a federally chartered institution, the National Academies, to support initiatives that some view as politically partisan. It highlights the ongoing debate over the role of government-funded organizations in addressing social and political issues, and whether they are staying true to their stated mission of providing objective, non-partisan research and advice.

The details

According to the Consumers' Research report, NASEM has published various studies and workshops related to transgender youth, diversity and inclusion, policing, and climate change that the group sees as reflecting a left-leaning agenda. This includes a workshop on 'Supporting the Health and Well-Being of Transgender and Gender Diverse Youth' and a book on 'Reducing Inequalities Between Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Adolescents and Cisgender, Heterosexual Adolescents.' The report also highlights NASEM's $1.15 million grants to promote DEI in biomedical research, as well as its work on issues like police funding and climate change advocacy.

  • In 2022, NASEM partnered with the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative to hand out $1.15 million grants to promote DEI among biomedical researchers.
  • In 2020, in response to the Black Lives Matter protests, NASEM established a Committee on Reducing Racial Inequalities in the Criminal Justice System.
  • In 2025, NASEM came under fire for publishing a climate review seeking to influence the EPA's decision on an Obama-era greenhouse gas finding.

The players

Consumers' Research

A consumer watchdog group that issued the 'Woke Alert' report accusing NASEM of using taxpayer funds to support left-leaning initiatives.

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM)

A federally funded institution that conducts research and provides advice on a range of scientific and policy issues. The group receives 70% of its budget from federal funds.

Will Hild

The executive director of Consumers' Research, who accused NASEM of being 'a radical woke organization masquerading as a nonpartisan educational institution.'

Roger Pielke Jr.

A senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute who specializes in science and technology policy, and who argued that NASEM has gone from acting under the direction of Congress to acting as an 'independent actor' for the interests of billionaires and foundations.

Bruce Western

The co-chair of NASEM's Committee on Reducing Racial Inequalities in the Criminal Justice System, who accused police officers of having 'caused a great deal of harm in low-income communities and communities of color.'

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What they’re saying

“From pushing transgender ideology onto kids to spreading 'defund the police' insanity, this taxpayer-supported organization regularly abuses its status and reputation to fund the left's favorite causes.”

— Will Hild, Executive Director, Consumers' Research

“There is pretty strong evidence of a bias in the Bezos Earth Fund, and issues about conflicts of interest and bias go well beyond just funding sources.”

— Roger Pielke Jr., Senior Fellow, American Enterprise Institute

What’s next

The report's findings are likely to fuel ongoing debates about the role of government-funded institutions in addressing social and political issues. It remains to be seen whether the accusations against NASEM will lead to any changes in the organization's funding or priorities.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing tensions between maintaining the independence and objectivity of taxpayer-funded research institutions and allegations that they are using public resources to advance a partisan agenda. It underscores the need for continued scrutiny and transparency around the activities of such organizations to ensure they are serving the public interest.