Trump administration proposes sweeping changes to US science funding

The Trump administration, through the Office of Management and Budget, has unveiled a proposal that would place political appointees in charge of reviewing and approving federal research grants, effectively sidelining the traditional peer‑review process used by agencies such as the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, NASA and NOAA.

Scientists, universities and scientific societies have responded with a “red alert,” filing more than 3,500 comments and warning that the changes threaten the independence of research, could lead to cancellation of ongoing climate studies—over 100 reported—and jeopardize long‑term data collection essential for monitoring climate change, public health and environmental policy.

The proposal is part of a broader budget plan that seeks to trim billions from federal science programs, including cuts to climate‑related work at NASA and NOAA, and follows previous reductions in funding for diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. Editorials such as the one in Science have called the move an unprecedented attack on American science.