Trump Abolished Decades of Scientific Progress in a Hundred Days, and the International Repercussions Are Multifarious

Trump's 100-day presidency left a lasting impact on science, with widespread effects felt globally.

In recent times, the landscape of American science has been undergoing significant changes, with the Trump administration's policies raising concerns among the scientific community.

One of the most noticeable shifts can be seen in Europe, where institutions are actively trying to attract American scientific talent. A prime example is France's Aix-Marseille University, which has established the Safe Place for Science program to sponsor scientists working in climate, health, and environmental fields.

However, within the United States, the picture is somewhat different. The Trump administration's budget proposal for NASA in 2026 aims to halve the space agency's science funding, docking over $3 billion. This proposed cut could mean that NOAA and NASA will no longer be able to launch the next generation of Earth-observing satellites, which provide crucial data for climate and weather forecasting.

The administration's freeze on grant applications for universities, part of its investigation into antisemitism at over 60 universities, potentially affects climate research. Moreover, the administration has canceled hundreds of millions of dollars' worth of scientific grants distributed by the National Science Foundation.

Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency has also been a significant player in these changes, firing thousands of scientists in an attempt to cut "waste and fraud" from the federal budget. The National Science Foundation has frozen all grant applications, with crowdsourced information showing that on April 18, DOGE had canceled hundreds of millions of dollars in grant funding.

The Trump administration's plans extend beyond NASA and the National Science Foundation. The administration is considering slashing scientific research at NASA and eliminating all research at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Secretary of State Marco Rubio has shuttered the Office of Global Change, which oversees international climate negotiations.

The administration's policies have also affected the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The EPA plans to gut its greenhouse gas monitoring program, and the administration has proposed amputating the EPA's scientific arm, which means laying off thousands of scientists.

Despite these challenges, American scientists continue to make significant contributions to the global scientific community. They have published around 400,000 studies each year for the last quarter century, a pace unrivaled by any other country. However, the future of American science under the current administration remains uncertain.

In the face of these challenges, some scientists are looking abroad for opportunities. According to a recent analysis from Nature, American scientists have submitted 32 percent more applications for international jobs during the beginning of this year compared to last year.

The U.S. has a profound presence at United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) meetings, contributing significantly to global climate science reports. However, the U.S. missed the deadline to report its emissions to the United Nations for the first time in three decades, raising concerns about the country's commitment to global climate action.

The Trump administration's policies towards scientific research have been met with criticism from various quarters. The National Institutes of Health programs and grants for studying the health impacts of climate change have been frozen under the Trump administration's new policy. The administration has also canceled a contract for the firm that facilitates the research of the U.S. Global Change Research Program, potentially ending the National Climate Assessment.

The administration's passback memo to the Department of Health and Human Services reportedly proposes slashing $40 billion from its budget. This proposed cut could have far-reaching implications for various health-related programs and research initiatives.

In conclusion, the Trump administration's policies towards scientific research have raised concerns within the scientific community and beyond. The future of American science under the current administration remains uncertain, with many scientists looking abroad for opportunities and the U.S. missing deadlines and cutting funding for critical scientific initiatives.