In the United States, scientists are in a state of confusion and panic after the Trump administration made a prescription free of billions of federal research funds last week.
The administration resumed its planned judgment of federal subsidies and loans within two days, but an examination of thousands of programs financed by the federal government is continuing. A break on research funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) remains in place.
NIH is the largest biomedical institution in the world, providing more than $ 40 billion (38.7 billion euros) per year to health research. It finances more than 300,000 researchers in more than 2,500 universities and other research institutions, mainly in the WE.
Due to the additional concern of the financing of the NIH research could be refused for having denounced the actions of the Trump administration, a scientist at Harvard University spoke to DW under the cover of anonymity.
“It’s chaos, really scary. It is a threat to academic freedom. Many scientists and technicians panic and do not know if they can have a future in research,” said the source.
Kenneth Evans, expert in public science and technology policy at Rice, Texas, said that the Trump administration had now made the United States “a hostile place for researchers”.
“There are no good news for the American sciences. Coupled with attacks on (employment security) of civil servants, including thousands of scientists, the Trump administration has made the United States a hostile place for researchers, “he said.
Long -term impact on American science
The freeze freezing came in a set of decrees that we President Trump Signed on January 27.
Orders are designed to move policies on several scientific questions, including the climate and public health. They also aim to reduce government workforce, which includes scientists.
Although an order of the Federal Court has ordered agencies to resume expenses, the debacle will have a prejudicial impact on American science in the long term, said Evans.
“American colleges and universities are walking slightly, revising and closing programs and programs that could take place against Trump’s orders,” said Evans.
Meanwhile, scientific progress continues elsewhere in the world. Evans said that there is already evidence that “students and scientists suffering from new rules are turning to greener pastures abroad for their education and employment”.
“If the Trump administration wants to strengthen American leadership in science and technology, there is little evidence that it takes this promise seriously,” he said.
“ Government effectiveness ” damaging American science
Funding freezing brought scientific research to stop research laboratories across the United States.
Although most research has now resumed, it is not difficult to know which federal subsidies are not to be described. Many scientists are still in the limbo, waiting to hear if they would receive funding for the research they have already been allocated, according to the anonymous source, which said that the Trump administration actions have already delayed important scientific and medical percaees.
“You need a fundamental science to guide the future of research and technologies. If scientists do not trust the ground under their feet, how can they do their job?” said the source.
“Scientific experiences are planned for months or years in advance. If funding is arrested or unreported, this has an impact on the research efforts of years.”
Like most new federal financing cuts in the Trump administration, the freeze will also reverse years of progress improving the diversity of public institutions.
“Representation through scientific research is imperfect, so we try to improve diversity and better representation in the academic world,” said the source.
The US government is now examining which programs funded by NIH will continue to receive federal funding.
As part of the journal, agencies will have to answer a series of questions for each program, especially if programs finance diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), support undocumented migrants or include gender references Prohibition by recent decrees.
What is the following for American science?
Evans said he was concerned about the long -term future of American scientific institutions as a pillars of the American soft power abroad.
“Federal scientific agencies, the NSF (National Science Foundation) and NIH in particular, are the international gold stallion to support research and innovation,” he said.
“”Trump withdrawal from who (World Health Organization) and Agreement in Paris Add fuel to this fire, opening a window for other scientific powers, especially in Europe and China, to direct public health and climate innovation. “”
Science needs a “table at the table” if it is able to survive the aggressive reforms of the administration to grant funding and scientific exchanges.
The scientific community places its hopes on Michael Kratsios, Trump’s candidate to lead the Blank Scientific and Technological Policy Office, which is currently awaiting confirmation from the Senate.
“If his voice is exhausted among the Elon (musk) Acolytes and Hawks on a low budget, the next four years will test the limits of damage that American science can undergo before giving leadership to more favorable – and welcoming nations – “said Evans.
Published by: M Ward Agius
This story has been updated.