Is America at Risk of Losing a Generation of Scientists Because of Trump?

More than 1,900 scientists and engineers signed the letter, saying they “see real danger in this moment” as the Trump administration sharply cuts federal support for scientific research.

Scientists warn that the US risks losing an entire generation of scientists because of President Donald Trump's harsh policies.

“The U.S. government’s wise investments have built a powerful national research system that is the envy of the world,” the open letter, released Monday, said.

“But shockingly, the Trump administration is undermining this system by slashing research funding, laying off thousands of scientists, restricting public access to scientific data, and pressuring researchers to change or abandon their work for ideological reasons,” the open letter said.

The letter was written by members of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, an organization created by Congress under President Abraham Lincoln to advise policymakers. Each signatory expressed their support as an individual, not on behalf of the universities or research institutes where they work.

They accuse President Donald Trump's administration of censorship through executive orders and threats to cut off funding to block any initiatives that the president and his close allies do not like, including efforts to address climate change and develop vaccines.

“The United States is already the largest funder of scientific research and home to the largest research and innovation ecosystem in the world. The Trump administration’s first two months of reviewing the previous administration’s projects, identifying waste, and aligning research spending with the priorities of the American people will not shake America’s leadership in innovation,” White House spokesman Kush Desai explained.

Yet in less than 100 days in office, President Donald Trump and billionaire financier Elon Musk have devastated the science departments of federal agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Trump administration is investigating more than 50 universities as part of an effort to eliminate programs that support students from minorities and historically disadvantaged communities.

“The pursuit of truth—the mission of science—should require that scientists be free to explore new questions and report their results honestly, independent of special interests,” the letter said. “The government is censoring and destroying this independence.”

By threatening to cut $400 million in funding, the administration forced Columbia University to change its school policies and academic programs. Other institutions have halted research, laid off staff, and stopped enrolling graduate students.

Scientists who signed the letter warned that the United States risks losing a generation of scientists because of these actions. More than 1,200 scientists have considered leaving the United States because of the Trump administration's drastic measures, accounting for 75% of those who responded to a separate survey by the journal Nature.

“A climate of fear has engulfed the research community. We send this message to sound a clear warning: the nation’s scientific system is under threat,” the members of the National Academies wrote in the letter.

Source: https://www.baogiaothong.vn/my-nguy-co-mat-ca-mot-the-he-nha-khoa-hoc-vi-ong-trump-192250403001842095.htm