Although we are less than a month into Donald Trump’s second presidency, his policy decisions are already sending shockwaves through the scientific community. While his administration pledges to invest in “industries of the future,” it is simultaneously retreating from global climate leadership and public health commitments.

Trump’s anti-environment and anti-public health stance was evident in his first term when he withdrew the US from the Paris Agreement in 2017 and attempted to sever ties with the World Health Organisation (WHO) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, in his second presidency, he has wasted no time in doubling down on this approach, ordering US withdrawal from both agreements on his first day in office. Compounding concerns, Trump has appointed Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a known vaccine skeptic, as Secretary of Health and Human Services. This move rings alarm bells about the future of public health policy in the US, as it will undermine established scientific consensus on vaccines and disease prevention.

Concerns for science under Trump extend beyond climate policy and public health, though. His administration has sought to cut funding for key scientific agencies, including the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Though these actions have so far been blocked by federal judges, this clear indication of Trump’s attitude towards research has shaken the scientific community.

Adding to these concerns, Trump has ordered the termination of diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI), and accessibility programmes in federally funded research institutions. DEI initiatives have been critical in addressing systemic biases in hiring, funding, and research opportunities in STEM fields. Their elimination not only threatens the careers of minority scientists but also risks reversing decades of progress towards inclusivity in scientific research. The suspension of these programmes will disproportionately impact researchers studying the intersection of social factors, such as race, gender, and class, with scientific outcomes, further marginalising historically overlooked communities.

“The suspension of these programmes will disproportionately impact researchers studying the intersection of social factors with scientific outcomes”

While the US has historically collaborated with its allies to deliver scientific advancements and champion global scientific agreements, Trump’s ‘America first’ stance underscores a pursuit of nationalist superiority over collective scientific advancements. International collaboration in science will further be damaged by Trump’s immigration policies. In his first term, many foreign scientists, researchers, and students struggled to work in the US due to strict visa restrictions. Trump’s nationalist rhetoric and policies, thus, are likely to drive international scientists to cooperate with non-US institutions in search of a less hostile working environment.

Despite these setbacks, not all scientific endeavours under Trump 2.0 are doomed. His administration’s vow to maintain US dominance in “industries of the future,” will focus on areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), advanced manufacturing, quantum information science, and 5G. Some of these priorities in fact align with those of his predecessor, Joe Biden. Mohammed Soliman, director of the strategic technologies and cybersecurity programme at the Middle East Institute, notes that “Trump and Biden may clash on everything else, but on AI and quantum, they’re virtually in sync.” Within his first week in office, Trump mandated the development of an action plan to sustain US leadership in AI within 180 days. His administration has also pledged to double AI research investment, draft AI regulations, and establish international alliances in the field.

Another area that may flourish under Trump’s second term is space exploration. His administration has prioritised NASA’s Artemis programme, aiming to accelerate missions to the Moon and Mars. Trump’s close collaboration with space billionaires, particularly SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, could lead to cost-effective solutions for deep-space missions. Musk’s reusable Starship rockets offer a stark contrast to NASA’s expensive and expendable Space Launch System (SLS), potentially revolutionising space travel. However, Trump’s cuts to DEI programmes have created staffing challenges at NASA, raising concerns about operational capacity and safety. A lack of diversity and inclusivity could further hinder progress at an agency already struggling with representation issues.

“Trump’s ‘America first’ stance underscores a pursuit of nationalist superiority over collective scientific advancements”

Ultimately, Trump’s second presidency signals a shift in the direction of US scientific endeavours. While his administration remains invested in select fields like AI and space exploration, the broader picture indicates a retreat from science for the public good to science for corporate and elite interests. The Trump administration’s prioritisation of private projects over public oversight raises serious concerns about the erosion of government accountability in scientific advancements, with the lucrative contracts awarded to Musk’s SpaceX exemplifying how science under Trump may increasingly serve corporate interests rather than the broader public. By favouring industries that benefit the wealthy while dismantling environmental protections, public health initiatives, and inclusive scientific research, Trump is steering the US away from its long-standing role as a global leader in science, innovation and public welfare.

It seems US research will become dictated by profit rather than mutual progress, and the most critical scientific fields—those addressing climate change, public health, and social equity—will be left to wither.

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