Report details turmoil in US science under Trump's funding, policy shifts

The US scientific community experienced significant upheaval in 2025 due to radical policy and funding changes implemented by the second Trump administration, according to a report published in the journal Nature on Monday. The year was marked by the freezing or cancellation of thousands of federal research grants, creating widespread uncertainty across universities and research institutions.

Administration Actions and Rationale

Major agencies like the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) saw grants disrupted, while other measures included dismantling USAID and using funding as leverage over university policies. White House spokesperson Kush Desai defended the actions to Nature, stating the administration aimed to cut funding for "left-wing pet projects masquerading as ‘scientific research’" and restore public confidence in science bodies. The administration's historically strained relationship with established science was further evidenced by its dismissal of climate change as a "hoax" and the appointment of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a figure without a medical degree who promotes anti-vaccine theories.

Growing Resistance and Global Fallout

The policy shifts have sparked significant resistance. Universities, including Harvard, have filed lawsuits over canceled grants, while former officials like ex-NIH director Elias Zerhouni warn of a "perfect storm" undermining US science. Countries including Canada, China, and European nations have reportedly begun efforts to recruit disaffected American researchers. While the long-term impact remains unclear, the report portrays a sector in crisis, facing internal ideological pressures and the potential loss of scientific talent to global competitors.