Private money cannot replace public funding of science.

The article examines the question of who should fund American scientific research, emphasizing the historical and ongoing importance of public funding. It outlines how, from the nation's founding through the 19th and 20th centuries, federal agencies established and sustained essential scientific work that addressed broad public needs, such as mapping, agriculture, and health, which private entities could not adequately support. While private sector research, exemplified by companies like General Electric, has contributed to innovation, it is primarily profit-driven and may neglect critical societal issues or produce harmful outcomes. The article argues that government-funded "background research," which includes long-term and foundational projects, remains vital for public welfare and cannot be fully replaced by private investment. [Extracted from the article]