It’s a grim irony that the Roman Empire, despite its monumental achievements, is credited with a rather notorious scientific “contribution”: the slaying of Archimedes. Similarly, today the U.S. is on the verge of a comparable disgrace.

In 212 B.C.E., the Romans overran Syracuse after a long siege, during which Archimedes, the preeminent mathematician, physicist, and engineer of his time, was tragically killed by a Roman soldier. While details differ among historical accounts, one story depicts Archimedes absorbed in solving a problem in the sand. As the soldier approached with his sword ready, Archimedes pleaded, “Please, do not disturb this.” Ignoring his plea, the soldier killed the 72-year-old scholar.

American science is now under a similar threat. The Trump administration has positioned itself aggressively against science, encumbering our universities, quashing the free exchange of ideas, slashing fundamental science budgets, and poised to deal a devastating blow, all under the guise of restoring American greatness.

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Although it has experienced setbacks since the COVID pandemic, science continues to be among the most trusted and esteemed institutions in the U.S. Despite its imperfections, science is one of the rare pillars that highlights our societal achievements and contributes to our national pride.

Our scientific and technological leadership is the envy of the world, unparalleled by any other nation or civilization throughout history. Since World War II, no other country has invested as much in basic research as the U.S. Following the remarkable success of the Manhattan Project, U.S. leaders have recognized what the rulers of ancient Syracuse understood long ago: intelligent investment in brilliant minds pays off.

In the past year alone, the U.S. government allocated approximately $90 billion to nondefense research. This substantial investment, though seemingly minor within the broader federal budget, has yielded incredible innovations: from treatments that tackle our deadliest diseases to rockets that explore outer space, and smartphones that connect us globally—most of these trace back to public funding.

It’s straightforward to see the economic benefits of scientific investment—each dollar spent on National Institutes of Health research generates about $2.56 in economic activity. Halving the research budget would save American taxpayers $260 this year but could cost them up to $10,000 in future economic growth. Federal investments in nondefense research have driven roughly 20 percent of U.S. business productivity growth since the end of World War II.

Furthermore, while many science trainees don’t pursue research careers, they often contribute significantly to various sectors, including industry and government, tackling some of humanity’s most challenging problems and driving our modern economy forward.

The true value of our scientific achievements lies beyond the tangible—what we build is impressive, but what we learn and understand is transformative.

We’ve constructed telescopes to observe the ancient light of early galaxies.

We’ve created AI that not only mimics our speech but also helps us explore the essence of what it means to be human.

We’ve embarked on a monumental quest to eradicate cancer.

We’ve bravely examined our societal, historical, and personal networks to uncover and address uncomfortable truths.

Isn’t this the hallmark of a great nation? Not merely to build physical infrastructures but to forge intellectual legacies that inspire future generations and set standards for the world.

Americans often consider themselves unique. In his seminal work, Democracy in America, French historian Alexis de Tocqueville highlighted that Americans occupy an exceptional position, a sentiment that holds when considering our contributions to science.

This is precisely why fundamental science deserves public funding. No private company would forgo profits to explore distant cosmic mysteries. No individual benefactor could match the scale of funding that a nation can provide to quench our collective quest for knowledge.

Science not only showcases our capabilities but also projects our national strength and wisdom. It proclaims, “Look how far and deep we can reach with our resources and intellect.”

The minor savings from proposed budget cuts to scientific research might not impact taxpayers immediately, but the long-term consequences will be profound. We are at risk of denying future generations wealth in both material and intellectual realms for negligible short-term savings.

These cuts threaten to dismantle the educational advancements, the bravery, and the powerhouse of American ingenuity that uphold our historical significance.

How will future generations judge this moment? Will they see us as visionaries or as mere footnotes in history? If science falls to budget cuts, remember: Archimedes’ name endures through ages, but his killer’s does not.

I implore you, let this continue.

This article presents opinions and analysis, and the views expressed are not necessarily those of Scientific American.