Scientists voice concerns as Trump returns to office
Donald Trump’s reelection raises alarm in the scientific community, with fears his administration may once again disrupt environmental regulations and scientific integrity.
Joel Achenbach, Mark Johnson, and Carolyn Y. Johnson report for The Washington Post.
In short:
- Many scientists are preparing for potential regulatory rollbacks on climate policies, a hallmark of Trump’s first term.
- The Union of Concerned Scientists anticipates risks to scientific integrity, citing past interference with government research.
- Trump’s close relationship with Elon Musk could shift priorities in space and technology funding, affecting NASA and federal research budgets.
Key quote:
“There have always been these political disputes over science, whether it’s about evolution or climate change, or genetically modified crops, but none of them have had the intensity and extensive polarization that occurred around covid. Covid was kerosene on the fire.”
— Holden Thorp, editor in chief, Science
Why this matters:
A new Trump administration may impact the future of climate and health science by reshaping regulatory priorities and undermining trust in science-based policymaking. For many, the anticipated policy shifts threaten progress on critical research areas, from climate change to public health.
Related EHN coverage: Marc Shaffer, Rachel M. Shaffer: Science saves lives
