Trump Administration Ties International Research Funding to Ideological Compliance

Researchers in Canada and Australia face funding freezes or terminations unless they align with U.S. political priorities, prompting calls for alternative funding solutions.

• The Trump administration has implemented a policy requiring U.S.-funded international research projects to align with American political and ideological goals, including opposition to DEI and environmental justice.
• Seven Australian universities have reported researchers receiving questionnaires probing their compliance with U.S. standards, with some facing funding freezes or terminations.
• The Canadian Association of University Teachers and the Australian Academy of Science have criticized the measures as undermining academic freedom and called on their governments to develop independent funding mechanisms.
• Some researchers who complied with the Trump administration's questionnaire have had their funding reinstated, while others who resisted have faced terminations.
• The U.S. is a significant research partner for both Canada and Australia, making the funding freezes impactful and fueling concerns about foreign interference in academic research.

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