Trump cuts target next generation of scientists and public health leaders
Marian Schultz
▶February 19, 2025
Become smarter in just 5 minutes
Feeeed serve up the most interesting stories in AI, tech, business, science, and more—all in 5 minutes or less.
Booyah! The first newsletter will go out early next week.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
The Rundown: The Trump administration’s deep cuts to National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding have left U.S. researchers fearing for their jobs—and, in some cases, planning to leave the country.
The Context:
- A White House directive slashed NIH research funding by over two-thirds, though a federal judge has temporarily blocked the cuts.
- Biomedical scientists, many of whom rely on NIH grants for salaries, are struggling to see a future in the U.S.
- Some researchers are already seeking jobs abroad, while others are considering leaving science altogether.
- The cuts also target diversity-focused grants, further narrowing opportunities for young and underrepresented scientists.
Why it Matters: The U.S. has long been the global leader in medical research, with NIH funding playing a crucial role in breakthroughs across neuroscience, diabetes, and infectious diseases. With funding in jeopardy, a “lost generation” of scientists could stall medical innovation—potentially pushing life-saving discoveries to other countries.
