Trump’s Impact on US Science Funding
During his second term, President Donald Trump has significantly reduced support for science and scientists. Funding for institutions like the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been cut by a third, and up to 8,000 federal research grants have been cancelled or frozen. These actions have not only harmed individual research programs but also undermined the United States’ reputation as a dependable partner within the global scientific community. Consequently, many researchers—75% according to a poll by the journal Nature last year—are considering leaving the US entirely.
Challenges and Opportunities for Europe
While dissatisfaction with the current situation is widespread, relocating is a significant step. For the UK and the EU to successfully attract top scientific talent, their strategies must be twofold: directly appealing to scientists concerned about political interference and offering stable, protected funding.
France has demonstrated the effectiveness of this approach with its Choose France for Science initiative, launched early in response to Trump’s cuts. This program emphasizes academic freedom and provides a £90m fund to attract international researchers. This month, the French government announced that 41 researchers would relocate from the US under this scheme.
This contrasts with the EU’s similarly named initiative, Choose Europe for Science, which offers a substantial £790m in funding. Despite launching with rhetoric that implicitly criticized the Trump administration’s stance on science, not all funds are specifically allocated for researchers outside Europe. Data from the European Research Council indicates that the number of US-based researchers applying doubled in 2025, though the overall number remains relatively small. While new funding is welcome, it is uncertain whether large, competitive grant rounds will attract many American scientists compared to more direct recruitment efforts.
In comparison, the UK has committed only £15m to its international researcher recruitment efforts. The government has described this initial amount as a trial, with the possibility of increasing funding later. However, given the current circumstances, a more assertive approach is advisable. The disruptions caused by Trump’s policies may be temporary, and other countries are making competitive offers. Canada, sharing cultural and linguistic similarities with the UK, has recognized what it calls a “historic opportunity” and launched a dedicated program aiming to attract approximately 1,000 researchers over the coming years—a move that could significantly enhance Canada’s scientific landscape.
Long-Term Perspective on US Scientific Dominance
It is important to maintain perspective. The US has been the leading scientific power since the mid-20th century, and it will take more than the remainder of Trump’s term to alter that status. As the Nature journal has argued, as long as federal science funding in the US remains relatively high and its university system stable, a large-scale exodus of scientists is unlikely.
Nonetheless, Trump’s policies have insulted, defunded, and alienated thousands of highly skilled researchers—individuals in whom countries have invested decades and millions of pounds for training and recruitment. His administration has been particularly detrimental to critical fields such as vaccine development, infectious disease research, and climate crisis studies. While the EU and the UK should continue to prioritize their own researchers and programs, there exists a unique opportunity to enhance scientific culture and economic growth by offering support to American scientists seeking to relocate.
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