Election rematch could shape US science policy for years

The upcoming election between Donald Trump and Joe Biden could drastically alter the future of environmental, public health, and international scientific collaboration policies.

Jeff Tollefson, Natasha Gilbert, Max Kozlov, and Mariana Lenharo report for Nature.

In short:

Trump and Biden offer starkly different visions for climate change action, with Trump aiming to roll back environmental regulations and Biden pushing for clean-energy innovation.
Public health funding and policy approaches also divide the candidates, with Biden supporting increased funding for health research and Trump's history of attempting to cut it.
Immigration and international collaboration could see changes, impacting scientists and research globally, with each candidate's policy having significant implications.

Key quote:

“It’s a trope to say that every election is critical, but this election is particularly stark in the two paths that it presents for the United States.”

— Alexander Barron, environmental scientist at Smith College

Why this matters:

This election's outcome could significantly influence the United States' approach to critical issues like climate change, public health, and international scientific collaboration. The direction taken not only affects the nation's health outcomes but also its position on the global stage in tackling some of today's most pressing challenges.

Opinion: House Speaker Mike Johnson’s climate change playbook — deny the science, take the funding.

www.nature.com

Sick African American man coughing holding paper napkin near mouth suffering from respiratory ailment

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In U.S. coal country, black lung surges as federal protections stall

While President Trump is directing hundreds of millions of dollars to coal projects, miners in Appalachia are suffering from a resurgence of black lung disease. But industry pushback has indefinitely delayed federal rules that would reduce miners’ exposure to deadly silica dust.

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Election rematch could shape US science policy for years

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