State of Science Under the Trump Administration (2025)

Meteorology Matters paints a concerning picture of the state of science in the United States under the Trump administration in early 2025. Key themes include:

• Widespread job cuts and firings in science agencies: Mass firings are reported at the NSF, NOAA, NASA, USDA, and other agencies, with many scientists protesting or pursuing legal challenges.
• Budget cuts and shifts in funding priorities: The NIH is facing potential budget cuts, including a controversial plan to drastically reduce indirect cost payments for research. Concerns are raised about the impact on biomedical research and university research programs.
• Political interference and erosion of scientific integrity: Concerns are raised about political interference in science, including potential censorship and suppression of research related to climate change. The appointment of individuals with anti-science views to key positions is also noted.
• Resistance and activism: The scientific community and concerned citizens are organizing in response to these changes, including protests, legal challenges, and public advocacy.
• Meta Ending Fact-Checking Program: Meta is shifting its approach to combatting misinformation by ending its fact-checking program, which has drawn both praise and skepticism.

Key Themes and Supporting Evidence:

1. Mass Firings and Job Cuts in Science Agencies:

• Several reports detail mass firings across government science agencies, including the NSF, NOAA, NASA, and USDA. The NSF is reported to have fired roughly 10% of its workforce.
• One USDA researcher described being "removed" from their "dream job" with an email stating the termination was due to poor performance, "which is nonsensical since they invited me to apply for a promotion just the other month.”
• The "Mass firings decimate U.S. science agencies" article in Science highlights that scientists are "joining the ranks of fired federal workers—and fighting back through protests, appeals, and legal challenges."
• NOAA and NASA are bracing for major job cuts.

2. Budget Cuts and Changes in Funding Priorities:

• The Trump administration is looking to drastically cut NOAA's staff and budget.
• The BBC reports that "Elon Musk... has claimed some universities were spending above that 30 percent" for research overhead, suggesting a rationale for budget cuts.
• Science reports that the NIH is planning to slash overhead payments for research, potentially costing universities billions of dollars. This has sparked outrage and a lawsuit.
• Senator Katie Britt (R-AL) stated that “a smart, targeted approach is needed in order to not hinder life-saving, groundbreaking research at high-achieving institutions like those in Alabama.”
• James Huganir expressed concern about the NIH cuts stalling 25 years of his research on SYNGAP1, a gene linked to intellectual disabilities.

3. Political Interference and Erosion of Scientific Integrity:

• A Physics World article describes concerns about the Trump administration's DEI rules and their potential impact on NASA's astronaut corps and research labs. Fermilab reportedly suspended its DEI office and restricted the activities of its LGBTQ+ group.