The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has enacted the most significant reduction in federal science funding in at least 35 years, with allocations for 2025 nearly halved compared to the average of the past decade.
According to reporting by The New York Times, the total federal outlay for scientific research and development this year has dropped to $989 million—down from an annual average of $2 billion between 2015 and 2024. While administration officials have stated that future research priorities will focus on artificial intelligence, quantum computing, biotechnology, and nuclear energy, the cuts have affected nearly all scientific disciplines.
Representative Zoe Lofgren, a senior member of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, has criticised the move. She alleges that the White House is withholding funds already approved by Congress. “What they are doing is not only unlawful but extremely damaging to scientific progress and, ultimately, to the U.S. economy,” she said.
The most severe cuts have occurred within STEM fields—science, technology, engineering, and mathematics—with up to 80% of programme funding eliminated compared to the previous decade. Other fields have seen similarly deep reductions:
Mathematics, physics, and chemistry: 67% cut
Engineering: 57%
Biology: 52%
Earth sciences: 33%
Computer science: 31%
Social and behavioural sciences: 20%
Programmes supporting technology, innovation, and partnerships: 17%
Experts warn that the reductions will have long-term consequences. Greg Hager, former director of the Division of Computing and Communication Foundations at the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), stated that while the immediate impact might not be evident, the cuts would severely affect future technological innovation. “This won’t stop today’s progress, but the long-term damage will be profound,” he said.
Particularly affected are early-career researchers, including students, doctoral candidates, postdoctoral fellows, and young faculty members, who depend on federal funding to launch their research careers. Analysts believe this erosion of foundational support could result in a talent drain and a diminished capacity for innovation.
The Trump administration has also targeted funding previously allocated to diversity and inclusion initiatives, including the cancellation of grants focused on gender identity, ecology, and social equity. As a result, institutions such as Johns Hopkins University have implemented large-scale redundancies, with around 2,000 staff dismissed in what has been described as the most substantial reduction in the university’s history.
Meanwhile, the NSF is undergoing internal restructuring, including layoffs and programme reviews. Staff have reported uncertainty over budget allocations for the current fiscal year, which concludes on 30 September. One NSF employee, speaking anonymously, described a situation of “total confusion,” adding, “We don’t know how much funding we’re losing or how to plan ahead because the process has stalled entirely.”
In a parallel development, the National Institute of Museums and Library Services has also been dismantled, drawing criticism from across the academic and cultural sectors. This move follows a broader trend of diminishing federal support for public research infrastructure and education services.
International observers have taken note. The European Union has reportedly expressed interest in recruiting U.S. researchers facing funding gaps. An unnamed source within the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Research and Innovation stated that several member states are already adjusting visa frameworks to accommodate incoming talent from the United States.
Robert Atkinson, president of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, warned that these policy decisions could erode U.S. global competitiveness. “These cuts are a self-inflicted wound,” he said. “If the administration proceeds, we can expect slower economic growth, fewer start-ups, reduced technological innovation, and even further loss of ground to China.”
Recent data from think tanks tracking global R&D output suggest that China has already surpassed the United States in annual research activity, both in quantity and volume of investment. Observers indicate that the latest U.S. retrenchment will only widen the gap.
In higher education, the atmosphere has become increasingly strained. At Yale University, Professors Timothy Snyder and two colleagues have announced plans to relocate to Canada, citing the administration’s antagonism toward academic institutions. They intend to continue their research at Canadian universities.
As Washington reorients its budget priorities, critics say the implications for the U.S. scientific landscape are already becoming apparent. Whether the funding model can be restored under a future administration remains uncertain. For now, American science faces a period of retrenchment unmatched in recent history.
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