US science leaders have raised alarms about potential disruptions to healthcare and research under the Trump administration. They fear that abrupt policy changes and funding cuts could have lasting effects.
As Congress approaches a critical March deadline to draft a spending bill for the new fiscal year, figures in science see this as a pivotal moment. Sudip Parikh, the head of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), expressed that this month could be one of the most significant in science and technology for the country.
President Trump and his advisor, Elon Musk, are pushing to trim trillions from the federal budget, which includes significant cuts to government positions. So far, billions have already been slashed from research funding, impacting major agencies like the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This has left many in the scientific community deeply concerned.
Parikh noted the importance of unity within the scientific community, stating, “We have got to stay together because it’s going to get rough.” Speaking at a conference in Boston, he highlighted the dangers of reduced international collaboration, especially with the US withdrawing from key agreements like the World Health Organization and the Paris climate accord.
Former NIH director Monica Bertagnolli emphasized the paralysis in decision-making, which has stalled essential projects. Important initiatives aimed at enhancing access to the National Library of Medicine and improving health outcomes for women and marginalized groups have been put on hold.
Willie May, the AAAS president, shared concerns that the current chaos is discouraging young scientists from pursuing careers in research. “Many early-career scientists are questioning whether they should continue,” he said.
Some appointments, including health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., have raised eyebrows due to his history as an anti-vaccine advocate. Despite his reassurances, many researchers remain skeptical about his leadership. Parikh firmly stated that Kennedy is not fit to lead the Department of Health.
In a striking article published by the British Medical Journal, an anonymous US federal researcher described feeling “terrified” and accused the Trump administration of erasing important discussions about advocacy and diversity in scientific research.
Maria Leptin, president of the European Research Council, urged her US colleagues to stand up for the values of scientific discovery, calling for a collective voice against the setbacks. She warned that trying to undermine American science could have dire consequences for global progress.
Initiatives aimed at promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in science have also suffered. May expressed the struggle of maintaining an inclusive scientific community amid these new pressures, stressing the need for determination in safeguarding such values.
In response to these challenges, the AAAS and the UK’s Royal Society have launched an international strategy to protect science through diplomacy. Parikh emphasized the urgency of reclaiming the narrative and working collaboratively with universities, patient organizations, and industry partners.
