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APPAM Impact Survey Results

Dear APPAM Members and Members of the Public Policy Field,

Thank you for your interest in the Impact Survey APPAM administered last month.  The survey, which was open for members and non-members for about two weeks in mid-June, was meant to help us learn how recent federal government cuts and changes have affected our members and the field and what future programming might be most helpful.  We continue to explore options, so please keep sending your ideas to us.

Here's a link to our Resource Page filled with links to topical webinars, opportunities to connect with other members, travel grants for our conference, knowledge-sharing resources, and other important information. Also be on the lookout for a student version of this survey coming out in August.  

 297 people responded to the survey. Below is a snapshot of the results.

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Q1. Have you been personally impacted by the changes in the federal government?

75% said yes, 25% said no.

Q2. Of the 75% that said yes, here’s how they are being impacted (respondents could select more than one choice)

  • The budget at my workplace has been/will be curtailed and this has affected/will affect my work, 63%
  • The changes are ongoing at my workplace and my job is in jeopardy, 36%
  • I have lost federal funding for my research, 28%
  • Other, 26% (see note)
  • I am looking for a job and find that many workplaces have paused hiring, 25%
  • I have lost access to federal data for my research, 19%
  • I am looking for a job in a different field due to recent federal government changes, 15%
  • I lost my job as an employee with a federal government agency, 4%
  • I lost my job as a contractor with a federal government agency, 4%
  • I lost my job at a research organization that lost or had grants curtailed, 4%
  • I am scheduled to lose my job soon, 2%

NOTE: Other responses centered around staff cuts resulting in less staff to do the same amount of work, uncertainty around future funding, general fearfulness and anxiety, family members losing jobs, furloughs or cuts to job time, etc.

Q3. If you could pick what APPAM should focus its efforts on during this time to most help those impacted by the changes in the federal government, what would they be? 1 should be most focus, 8 least focus.

The three activities that respondents most frequently ranked as the highest priority were:

  • Advocating against the administration's actions on cutting research budgets and the utilization of research in the policymaking process (28%)   
  • Joining legal efforts to fight the administration's grant cuts or dissolution of agencies (27%)
  • Hosting webinars and live events that address different aspects of the changes within the federal government (DOGE firings, research funding cuts, data availability, student visas, etc.) (14%)

The three activities that respondents most frequently ranked as the lowest priority were:

  • Working with student members to help them understand the impact on the field and what future job prospects might look like (21%)
  • Providing opportunities to network and speak freely about issues of concern (Candid Conversations, etc.) (19%)
  • Providing virtual career fair or employer & job seeker meet & greet opportunities (18%)

 

 1 = most focus, 8 = least focus

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

Providing opportunities to network and speak freely about issues of concern (Candid Conversations, etc.)

10%

6%

11%

14%

13%

16%

12%

19%

Hosting webinars and live events that address different aspects of the changes within the federal government (DOGE firings, research funding cuts, data availability, student visas, etc.)

14%

11%

17%

13%

14%

11%

13%

7%

Joining legal efforts to fight the administration's grant cuts or dissolution of agencies

27%

21%

9%

11%

8%

6%

6%

11%

Advocating against the administration's actions on cutting research budgets and the utilization of research in the policymaking process

28%

29%

12%

9%

5%

4%

8%

5%

Providing deeply discounted or free conference registrations or memberships for impacted members

7%

7%

12%

11%

17%

18%

18%

10%

Providing job resources/trainings/mentoring (1-1 or group)/professional development resources for impacted members in the changing environment

8%

14%

19%

17%

18%

15%

6%

4%

Working with student members to help them understand the impact on the field and what future job prospects might look like

2%

6%

10%

15%

10%

15%

21%

21%

Providing virtual career fair or employer & job seeker meet & greet opportunities

8%

9%

13%

11%

15%

14%

11%

18%

 

Q4. Is there an organization that you are a member of or an organization that you know of that is engaging in activities that you find particularly helpful or meaningful in these challenging times?

This was an open-ended question, and 81 respondents answered. The most popular answers AERA, American Statistical Association, SREE, AEFP, and AAAS.

Q5. There were 44 general comments. They largely centered around the following issues:

  • Sadness at the disrespect being exhibited towards federal workers.
  • Sadness/concern around the hollowing out of the expertise of the federal workforce and what it means for the future.
  • Concern over what research funding will look like in the future.     
  • Urging APPAM and others to focus on why the work matters.
  • Urging the creation of coalitions to fight back.
  • The importance of fighting back and getting involved.
  • The risks of fighting back and getting involved in political advocacy.