Trump Policies Strain $200 Billion U.S. Research System, Jeopardizing 2,000 NIH Grants
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Oct 31
Trump Policies Strain $200 Billion U.S. Research System, Jeopardizing 2,000 NIH Grants
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Oct 31
Summary
$200 billion in annual federal research spending is no longer shielding the U.S. scientific system from deep strain, with Trump administration policies disrupting defense, medical and technology research.
More than 1,000 Energy Department scientists and technical staff have left, while the National Science Foundation has withheld over $1 billion and the NIH delayed or canceled more than 2,000 biomedical grants.
Pentagon labs lost a significant share of staff after federal workforce cuts, and refilling critical posts has been slowed by loyalty screening for new hires, according to a Defense Department report warning of potentially grave consequences.
The pressure stems largely from last year's Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency cuts and grant cancellations, which scientists and officials say are eroding a research base that underpinned U.S. advantages in defense, medicine and technology.