“Trump Administration Targets NSF-Funded Research: What Scientists Fear”

The Trump administration’s scrutiny of NSF-funded research is causing concern among scientists and researchers. Darby Saxbe, a neuroendocrinologist at the University of Southern California, is worried that her research funding might get canceled. She studies fathers’ brains to understand changes that occur when they become parents, with a focus on including more people from minority groups in her study.

The administration is currently combing through tens of thousands of research grants to flag those that may not comply with President Trump’s executive orders targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. This move has frozen grants, restricted communications from federal agencies, and taken down databases on various health topics.

Critics argue that considering diversity in grantmaking leads to worse science, with some suggesting that it undermines “objective hard science.” However, since the 1990s, Congress has mandated that NSF weigh how its grants will boost the participation of women and minorities in science, in addition to the intellectual merits of the proposal.

The Trump administration’s efforts to exert more control over science at NSF go beyond diversity initiatives. Plans to cut the agency’s headcount by 25% to 50% and slash the budget from $9 billion to $3 billion have raised concerns about the future of American science. Scientists fear that these actions could lead to a less collaborative, less competitive, and less innovative research environment.

The moves have also sparked a culture of fear among many scientists, with worries about the impact on America’s competitive edge in fields like artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. Reduced funding could ultimately lead to a smaller skilled workforce to work on important issues, despite claims that the U.S. lacks enough homegrown talent to fill the tech industry’s demand for computer science professionals.

Overall, the Trump administration’s actions regarding NSF-funded research have raised significant concerns among scientists and researchers about the future of science in the United States. The potential impact on diversity initiatives, research funding, and America’s competitive edge in key fields is a cause for alarm among the scientific community.