The administration under Trump is removing financial backing for scientific research both in the US and internationally when it encounters a term they consider troublesome: “climate.”
Academics have reported that the US government is withdrawing grants and other forms of support for research that mentions the climate crisis, coinciding with Donald Trump’s aggressive assault on environmental regulations and clean energy initiatives.
Trump has dismissed the climate crisis as a “giant hoax,” eliminating references to climate change and global warming from government websites while halting programs related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. This has led to a broad funding freeze on federally supported scientific endeavors, resulting in turmoil within the US scientific community.
Researchers indicate that studies mentioning climate are being targeted specifically. One environmental scientist in the western US, who preferred to remain anonymous, revealed that their previously granted funds from the Department of Transportation for climate adaptation research were retracted until they adjusted the title to exclude the word “climate.”
“I still retain the grant because I changed the title,” the scientist explained. “I was advised that this modification had to be made before the grant title was published on the US DoT [Department of Transportation] website to keep it. The reasoning provided was that the current administration’s priorities do not encompass climate change and other topics deemed ‘woke.’”
The researcher expressed shock at the situation, stating, “I was already awarded the grant, and I risked losing it. I’m extremely worried about the influence of politics on science. If researchers cannot utilize specific terminology, it’s likely that scientific findings will be skewed.”
Efforts to erase mentions of climate are occurring in other contexts as well. Leaked emails divulged that the National Disaster Preparedness Training Center at the University of Hawaii will eliminate references to “climate change” from its course materials, following directives from the Trump administration that impact approximately a dozen different training resources.
“Specifically, references to ‘climate change’ and DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) have been removed or revised to align with the new directives,” an administrator at the center noted. “Please exercise caution when addressing these subjects in your lessons.”
The administration’s aversion to climate research has also affected international programs such as the US Fulbright exchange program, which provides around 8,000 grants annually to American and foreign teachers and scholars.
Kaarle Hämeri, chancellor of the University of Helsinki in Finland, reported that the descriptions for Fulbright grants were modified to erase or alter phrases like “climate change,” along with “equitable society,” “inclusive societies,” and “women in society.”
Hämeri mentioned that one grant intended for his university was already rescinded due to modifications imposed on various countries participating in the Fulbright program. Queries were directed toward Fulbright and the US state department to clarify the extent of the language restrictions.
“I understand that these decisions stem from changed governmental priorities in the US,” Hämeri stated. “This shift will adversely affect research across numerous essential fields, especially since US researchers often lead their respective areas.”
At the National Science Foundation (NSF), a federal agency with a $9 billion budget that funds scientific and engineering research, teams have been scrutinizing ongoing projects for numerous terms, including “women,” “biased,” and “equality,” which might breach Trump’s prohibition on certain grants.
The NSF, which has recently laid off about 10% of its staff, did not respond to inquiries regarding whether climate-related terms are also restricted. Nonetheless, grants supporting various scientific initiatives have been halted amid this intense effort to foster a new vocabulary among scientists, despite a court ruling demanding the reversal of the freeze.
“[The] NSF is diligently conducting an extensive review of our projects, programs, and activities to ensure compliance with the current executive orders,” a spokesperson from the foundation declared.
The grant freeze has disrupted scientific activities across federal agencies, hospitals, and universities, casting doubt over the future of hundreds of millions of dollars in research funding.
“The individuals most at risk in our society regarding health and public safety are now even further endangered,” stated Jennifer Jones, director of the Center for Science and Democracy at the Union of Concerned Scientists.
“This administration lacks a science advancement strategy; their focus is on removing obstacles for the oil and gas sector. They’re aiming to revert to a time when polio was rampant, rivers burned, and pollution choked our cities.”
Jones noted that the US government appears to be mirroring actions taken in Florida, where state laws have banned mentions of climate change. “I reside in a state increasingly threatened by climate change, yet state employees are prohibited from discussing it,” she commented. “The administration wants scientists to feel intimidated. While we have witnessed this before, Trump is executing it on an unprecedented scale now.”
According to Joanne Carney, chief government affairs officer at the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the government’s assault on science “feels extremely personal right now” and may dissuade young scientists from pursuing their fields of research.
“We could witness a decline in entire scientific disciplines, which would hinder our ability to comprehend the natural world and formulate policies that protect society and national security,” Carney added.
“We’re worried about the message this is sending to any young student interested in STEM [science, technology, engineering, and mathematics] who might feel uncertain about their future in the US,” she continued. “In this moment, we need increased investment in science and technology to maintain our status as a global leader. Our adversaries will take great pleasure in this situation.”
