Less than 100 days after Donald Trump returned to power, his administration has dealt a devastating blow to science in the United States, cutting funding, banning tenure and firing scientists. American researchers are talking about an “unprecedented attack on science in the United States” that could lead to the loss of an entire generation of young scientists.
This is reported by Agence France-Presse, citing numerous testimonies from scientists and organisations, including Stanford University, Harvard and the Union of Concerned Scientists. Science in the United States is under threat.
Loss of billions and censorship
Funding for research in areas ranging from cancer to climate has been cut by billions of dollars. Scientists in government agencies are facing layoffs. Universities are under pressure. Certain terms, such as “gender” or “climate change”, are banned from official documents. A number of scientific databases have been destroyed. This seriously affects the development of science in the United States.
“This is something gigantic. I’ve never seen anything like this in 40 years of science,” said Paul Edwards, director of the Stanford Science Programme.
Scientists sound the alarm
More than 1,900 American scientists have signed an open letter with a “call for help”. Their concern is not new – even during Trump’s first term, scientists were shocked. However, the current actions of the administration are more systematic and coordinated, dealing serious blows to science in the United States.
The central figure in the “scientific purge” is Project 2025, a radical political plan to disband key scientific institutions accused of “leftist indoctrination”. Science in the United States is going through a difficult time.
Official response from the White House
Despite the criticism, the White House denies the allegations:
“We finally have a president who is guided by science,” the official statement said.
However, the scientific community is pessimistic. Restoring trust in science in the US may take years or even generations, as the changes that have taken place are significant and difficult to overcome.
