JOINGAO releases long-awaited report on public access costs
A new GAO report examining the impact of the Nelson memo on federal spending on scholarly publishing underscores both the essential role of publishers and increasing policymaker attention to publication costs and transparency. STM and many of our members were interviewed in 2024 and 2025 for the report.
The report recognises that publishers provide critical functions — including peer review, quality control and dissemination — and describes the research publishing ecosystem as complex, with diverse business models and trade-offs, particularly around open access. It also aligns publishing practices with broader concerns about research integrity, including predatory journals and incentives in the system.
At the same time, the report reflects growing scrutiny of federal spending on publication fees, especially APCs, and claims there is limited visibility into pricing and services. It emphasises the role of federal agencies as major funders that can shape the market through policy. Troublingly, it also recommends that agencies be more direct regarding use and re-use rights in articles subject to their public access policies.
STM will seek to engage with agencies and Congress in response to the report and emphasise key takeaways — that publishing is important and worth investing in, and that public access carries costs that need to be addressed in federal budgeting.