Argentina slashes science budget by 50% amid government reshuffle

The Argentine executive branch is undergoing a reorganization after Diego Santilli was appointed chief of staff. Daniel Scioli kept the Tourism and Environment portfolios and regained control of Sports, prompting speculation about further departures, including that of Darío Genua, secretary of Innovation, Science and Technology.

At the same time, the administration reported a steep decline in funding for the science and technology sector. Real‑term spending fell more than 40% between 2023 and 2026, cutting the share of the overall public budget from 1.52% to 1.02%. Salaries for researchers at the National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET) dropped by around 40.5%, and overall investment in science decreased by roughly 50%. Officials have not confirmed Genua’s resignation, but the budget cuts have intensified concerns about the future of Argentina’s scientific institutions.