- Donald Trump’s presidency has been marked by a relentless assault on the scientific community, damaging the settlement between scientists and the state.
- Trump’s attacks on science have led to a climate of self-censorship and fear among scientists, causing them to avoid speaking out on contentious issues.
- The impact of Trump’s war on science will be felt for generations to come, as a generation of researchers is being politicised and discouraged from pursuing careers in science.
- Congress has pushed back against Trump’s cuts to scientific research funding, increasing funding for the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation.
- Trump’s war on science is not a new phenomenon, but rather the latest escalation in a long history of attacks on the scientific community.
Donald Trump’s presidency has been marked by a relentless assault on the scientific community, with the US president waging a war on science that has been vicious and hugely damaging. By attacking the basic settlement between scientists and the state, Trump has proved that experts can’t avoid these fights. The consequences of this war are already being felt, with many scientists and researchers feeling pressured to self-censor or avoid speaking out on contentious issues. The impact of Trump’s war on science will be felt for generations to come, as a generation of researchers is being politicised and discouraged from pursuing careers in science.
The Battle for Funding
One of the most significant battles in Trump’s war on science has been over funding for scientific research. Last year, Trump demanded that US federal scientific and medical research funding be cut, a move that was widely condemned by the scientific community. However, despite Trump’s best efforts, Congress has pushed back against these cuts, with the final funding bill for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) actually increasing funding for these agencies. This is a significant victory for the scientific community, but it is unlikely to be the last battle in Trump’s war on science.
A History of Attacks
Trump’s war on science is not a new phenomenon, but rather the latest escalation in a long history of attacks on the scientific community. From his early days as a presidential candidate, Trump has been sceptical of the scientific consensus on issues like climate change and vaccination. As president, he has used his executive powers to undermine the work of scientists and researchers, from withdrawing the US from the Paris climate accord to appointing climate change sceptics to key scientific posts. The cumulative effect of these attacks has been to create a culture of fear and uncertainty within the scientific community.
What to Watch
As the US presidential election approaches, it is likely that Trump’s war on science will continue to escalate. Scientists and researchers will be watching closely to see how the next administration approaches issues like funding for scientific research and climate change. In the meantime, the scientific community must continue to speak out against Trump’s attacks on science and to advocate for the importance of scientific research and evidence-based policy. The future of science and progress depends on it.