The Trump administration’s planned cuts to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) not only threaten essential biomedical research in the US, but the livelihoods of researchers – and some are seriously considering leaving the country.
A 27 January memo from the Office of Management and Budget instructed federal agencies to pause funding allocations to ensure they serve Donald Trump’s goals, including “ending ‘wokeness’ and the weaponization of government, promoting efficiency in government, and Making America Healthy Again”.
On 7 February, the administration implemented a policy that would cut NIH funding to research institutions by over two-thirds. A federal judge has since blocked the cuts – for now.
I just accepted my offer to leave my university in the US for one in Europe. My mathematician of a wife is going to start working for one there too.
When I told my US colleagues they uniformly said how lucky I am and that they’re thinking about going too. Our University faculty and staff are looking to leave and we have the ability to do so. Brain drain is real and the US is about to see it first hand.
I’m waiting for my visa stuff to go through, but I’m also in the process of leaving the US
So we’re gunna be a version of nazi Germany, but without the coveted rocket scientists. Just a bunch of dumb idiots, causing lots of problems. The US is going to be equivalent to that guy on the bus who is very obnoxious and loud, but is also very dangerous. Like, most of his problems are his own, but will absolutely stab you for little provocation.
True but also the US already IS that person.
Like Pol Pot. I imagine that the generational devastations will be similar in length and intensity.
If Europeans wouldn’t sleep on this opportunity, we could massively improve our science recruiting. Related scientific paper of what getting the fired scientists from an autocracy can do to your science system: https://www.aeaweb.org/articles?id=10.1257%2Faer.104.10.3222
Sounds like Europe will reenforce itself soon on science.
I’m a physicist in 5th year of phd program & my partner is mathematician in her masters, we’re both considering moving away cause fuck this country lmao should be communist but instead fascist? cringe
I’m in 5th year of phd in semiconductor design and fabrication - I too am weighing my international options!
You thought the US was communist?
The US is communist, but only for the rich (“All the wealth for us”)
Socialism for the oligarchs; “laissez faire, laissez passer” capitalism for everyone else.
Then the rest of us get the “free market” treatment.
Soon laws will come that won’t allow scientists to leave, mark my words
I’m sure Trump sees scientist as unimportant for a functioning society. Anything he can’t grasp without thought confuses him and he wants to get rid of.
💯. As soon as the brain drain is noticeable by the oligarchy.
'Make America Healthy Again’ has led to slashes in NIH funding has some serious 1984 vibes to it.
💯💯💯💯💯
