Unprecedented attacks against science call for extraordinary action.
Istock, Erhui1979
TThe Trump administration has launched an unprecedented attack on science by targeting research activities in many leading universities. I was on the front line at Harvard when the first missiles fell. As founding director of the Wyss Institute, I received arrest working orders on three government contracts within five hours of following Harvard rejected unprecedented requests from the administration For the ideological control of the university on April 14. I am the main investigator on two biomedical contracts Advanced Research and Development Authority (Barda), totaling nearly $ 20 million, which have been arrested. A project focused on the use of human organ fleas technology to develop new drug counter-measures. In the other project, we intended to use these chips to study the effects of microgravity by making them lining with astronaut cells participating in the next Lunar Mission Artemis II and by piloting the fleas by their side. David WaltA recent recipient of the national technology and innovation medal of President Biden, is the main investigator of the NIH’s third contract which was also arrested in the middle. He developed a revolutionary approach to detect Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative diseases using just a drop of blood. From now on, this potentially changing technology will change life will not go ahead – a major loss for patients and their families.
These initial damage was important, but we, in Harvard, have experienced repeated strikes in the weeks that followed. Two weeks ago, NIH, NSF, DOD and other government financing agencies ended their subsidies in Harvard. This week, the US General Services Administration has informed universities that All government contracts with Harvard will immediately end. This wave of attacks has led to the cessation of research on the mechanisms of the disease, the steep cancellation of current clinical studies, the compromise of clinical data benchmarks and euthanasia potentially devoid of several non -human primates. These actions have been accompanied by proposals aimed at reducing the reimbursement of indirect costs to 15%, which will only cover a fraction of the costs of doing business in science today and to impose university endowments up to 21%.
Trump’s attack on science was a blitzkrieg – a lightning war with its speed, its surprise and its concentrated firepower – and the victims were great. Recently, the administration Revoked Harvard’s ability to register international students. Submitting scientists who promised their lives to help others by pursuing science to Harvard to such psychological cruelty, just because they come from other countries, is appalling. One day, they work with diligence on the bench; The next day, they are seized by the fear of being withdrawn from their home and losing their livelihood. A judge intervened to suspend the turmoil Temporarily, but these researchers are now struggling with the scary choice between pivoting their careers to pursue a completely new path or leave the country permanently. Anyway, Science in America will be found by a generation.
And what is the reason for this total war against Harvard? The government’s message to us was clear: our scientists and engineers are held hostage because Harvard refuses to rid the University of Anti -Semitism. But Harvard actively promotes anti-Semitism and actively refuse to respond to these problems? Well, let’s look at the data. There was a series of painful anti -Semitic measures taken by some Harvard students after Israel’s military response to Hamas in October 2023. Consequently, a A trial was brought in January 2024Followed by the resignation of the president of Harvard, Claudine Gay. Alan Garber, who was officially appointed president last year, has made many changes to stifle anti -Semitism at university. These include strengthening the rules governing the demonstrations and disciplinary measures, working with Harvard schools to suspend programs that had been accused of biases, launching efforts to support the feeling of belonging to Jewish students and the creation of anonymous reporting mechanisms of prejudice incidents. Harvard’s policies now clearly prohibit the targeting of Zionists. University has reprimand and students who have not followed these new rules, and Garber said he was determined to do more to fight against this problem Over time. Harvard Jewish students now say they no longer feels anti -Semitism in their daily life And that they are more concerned with how Trump’s attack on universities will affect their future.
The reality is that scientific research and the development of new diagnoses and therapeutics have nothing to do with anti -Semitism. At first, I thought that scientists were just innocent passers -by and that the government used its control over research funding as a strategic tool to silence dissent – something that students expressed on campuses as long as universities exist. Although this is true, I now also believe that the objective of the administration is the truth itself.
Scientists are probably perceived as the enemy because we support critical thinking and decision -making based on evidence. While we are looking at the Ministry of Health and Social Services remove scientific experts and offer to Make all the directors of the NIH Institute and the Center who oversee the appointments that make subsidiesWe see the power of science with better human lives and protecting the health of our planet collapse before our eyes. From this analysis and detail Requests for control over university operations were made in the letter from the Trump administration to Harvard This sparked this war, it is clear that it is ideological control and the end of academic freedom. As said inner Secretary Kristi Noem on Fox News, “This should be a warning to all universities to collect your act. “And so, if Harvard falls, all universities will lose their independence.
Are we helpless or is there something we can do to prevent this free fall? First, each scientist whose research can improve results for a specific disease or disorder should achieve patient defenders in their region and beg them. If the patients raise their voices quite strong enough, they will be heard. We must also contact the CEOs of pharmaceutical and biotechnological companies which would not have products and the future, if American science is launched by the edge of the path. They also need to express themselves on behalf of the government-university partnership that lasted decades that made American Science the automobile and the supreme success that it is today. We, scientists, must speak to the press and communicate why the work we do is important to the health of husbands and wives, brothers and sisters of each, children and grandchildren.
But for those who cannot appreciate science for itself, tell them how the economy will slow down if America does not continue to innovate and develop revolutionary technologies. Explain how these technologies will never be niles without dynamic universities and research hospitals that carry out this revolutionary research, which is not possible without government support. Let them know that the cuts offered by Trump at NIH and NSF have been estimated alone cost the US economy for $ 10 billion a year. This drop in scientific financing would cause The gross domestic product (GDP) of our country fell by about four percentwho will reach the average taxpayer in their portfolios, resulting in a loss of around $ 10,000 each.
This government performs similar attacks on all parts of our society – intermittent prices, the inversion of climate change policies, the construction of nuclear reactors on government lands and the end of arts financing. And these are just a few examples. Because they attack so many fronts at the same time, everyone must focus on protecting their own lawn. Thus, our survival as working scientists is in our hands. Do what you can to make your voice and our actions hear will multiply; It is our only hope.