Science policy

Victor Galaz: US science cuts a concern for all

When the US makes major cuts to its research budget, the effects could be devastating for the entire world. European academics need to raise their voices, Centre docent and political scientist Victor Galaz writes.

In a column published in one of Sweden’s leading dailies, Svenska Dagbladet, Victor summarizes the drastic and sudden cuts for US science institutions, since the Trump administration and Musk-led Doge advisory body took office.

A paradigm shift

“There is a war on free research in one of the world's largest democracies”, he writes.
He references the journal Nature, which describes the situation as a paradigm shift. During the first version of Trump’s presidency, Republicans in Congress blocked attempts to cut the research budget. Under Trump 2.0, this resistance seems to have completely disappeared.

“The effects could be devastating,” Victor writes and lists a number of examples already taking place:

- According to information provided to Science, the National Science Foundation (NSF) has been forced to create systems that flag research projects that include words like “diversity,” “inclusion,” “women,” and “race” in order to throttle their funding.

- As the US aid agency USAID was reduced to nothing, support for research on plant diseases, democracy, and medicine also disappeared.

- In climate research, where the US has been an absolute leader, all funding is being reviewed with the risk of closure if it is not in line with the priorities of the new American administration.

A concern for all

But what is happening is not just an American concern, Victor writes. American investments in research benefit the entire world, thanks to the internationalization and open nature of research.
“Research on pandemics helps reduce the risk of infection here too. A deeper understanding of climate change allows us to prepare for the effects of the climate crisis on people and security.”

Victor Galaz concludes that Europe's science academies recently published a statement signed by around 40 (now 67) of their member academies. But much more is needed.

“Swedish and European academics would be wise to understand the following. Every time
populist leaders push reforms under slogans like “efficiency” and “transparency,” their tool of choice is not a scalpel, but a wildly swinging wrecking ball.”

Topics: Funding European Union

Published: 2025-03-05