Wed Feb 26 11:31:01 UTC 2025: ## Trump’s Proposed Science Funding Cuts Threaten US Global Competitiveness
**Washington D.C., February 26, 2025** – Proposed drastic cuts to US federal science agencies under President Donald Trump’s administration are raising serious concerns about America’s future in scientific leadership. Experts warn that these cuts, potentially slashing funding and staff at agencies like the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health by as much as two-thirds and half respectively, could irrevocably damage the nation’s scientific enterprise.
University of Arizona astronomy professor Chris Impey argues that the cuts would severely undermine America’s global competitiveness in science, impacting economic growth and the training of future researchers. He points to historical evidence demonstrating the strong correlation between scientific investment and economic prosperity, noting that science and technology have driven 85% of American economic growth since World War II. Impey highlights the success of the National Institutes of Health, where every dollar invested generates $2.46 in economic activity.
While the US still holds some leading positions in scientific output, such as a high percentage of Nobel Prizes awarded to American researchers, several metrics indicate a decline. Research and development spending as a percentage of GDP has fallen significantly, and the US lags behind other nations in several key indicators of scientific prowess including the number of scientific researchers and top-cited scientific papers. China, in particular, has emerged as a strong competitor, surpassing the US in several key areas.
The proposed cuts come at a time when Congress already failed to meet its 2022 commitment to increase research funding, leaving federal science funding at a 25-year low. The current administration’s actions, which include freezing grant approvals and vetting grants for compliance with presidential orders, are further hindering research progress. A recent attempt to limit overhead rates at the NIH, although temporarily blocked by a judge, also illustrates the administration’s cost-cutting measures targeting crucial research support systems.
Impey emphasizes that despite representing a small fraction of federal spending (just over 1%), these cuts could have devastating consequences for job creation, the training of future scientists, and the overall health of the US economy. The traditionally bipartisan support for science funding will be tested as the president’s proposals face Congressional review. The potential long-term impact of these cuts on American scientific leadership remains a critical concern.
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