The Biden administration’s approach to science policy is under attack, with concerns that political appointees and funding cuts are undermining research and public health efforts.
Harold Varmus, a recipient of the 1989 Nobel Prize for medicine, writes for The New York Times.
In short:
- The Trump administration has appointed agency leaders who are hostile to science, including vaccine critic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as health secretary and former congressman Dave Weldon, who has promoted vaccine misinformation, to lead the CDC.
- Federal policies are restricting research through executive orders, funding cuts and efforts to limit grants to institutions accused of stifling "academic freedom."
- The U.S. is withdrawing from the World Health Organization, discouraging foreign scientists from working in the country and undermining federally funded research institutions.
Why this matters:
Scientific research drives medical advancements and economic growth and supports national security, yet political interference threatens to weaken the system that has made the U.S. a global leader in innovation. Restrictions on research funding and tightening immigration policies are already making it harder to attract and retain top scientists, pushing some to seek opportunities abroad. This shift could have serious consequences, particularly in fields like disease prevention, climate science and artificial intelligence — areas where the U.S. has historically set the global standard.
At the same time, efforts to discredit public health measures during crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic have fueled skepticism toward science. That erosion of trust may have lasting effects, not only on public health but also on policy decisions that rely on scientific expertise.
Related: Paul Ehrlich: A journey through science and politics
