Overview

• The Trump administration has cut $3 billion in NIH funding and $420 million in NASA contracts, leading to widespread project terminations and layoffs across federal agencies.
• A Nature poll reveals that 75% of U.S. scientists, including 79% of postdoctoral researchers, are considering leaving the country due to funding cuts and political uncertainty.
• Early-career researchers, particularly Ph.D. students and postdocs, are disproportionately affected, with many exploring opportunities abroad in countries like Germany, France, and Canada.
• International institutions, such as France’s Aix Marseille University and Université Paris Sciences et Lettres, are actively recruiting U.S.-based scientists, capitalizing on the disruption.
• Experts warn that these cuts could have long-term consequences for U.S. innovation, economic growth, and global scientific leadership, as rival nations advance in key research areas.