Terry Tao: “Trump CUT My Funding.” Here's how I am going to react.

Nov 18, 2025

Terence Tao, a Fields Medal-winning mathematician at UCLA, shares his insights on the abrupt cuts to federal research funding that blindsided his team. He discusses the chaos of sudden funding suspensions, the arbitrary nature of policy changes, and the detrimental impact on long-term research. Tao emphasizes the essential role of federal support in stabilizing research and nurturing talent, while also addressing the limitations of prize-driven approaches and their effect on collaboration in mathematics. A deep dive into the future of scientific discovery awaits!

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ANECDOTE

Sudden Grant Suspensions At UCLA

Terence Tao recounts that NSF and NIH grants at UCLA, including his own, were suspended without notice.
He describes scrambling to find emergency funding after a renewed grant supporting IPAM programs was suddenly frozen.

INSIGHT

Rule Changes Without Due Process

Tao observes the current administration changes rules abruptly without consultation or long-term planning.
He warns this lack of due process causes large collateral damage to research infrastructure.

ANECDOTE

Keywords Triggering Grant Cancellations

Tao gives concrete examples of seemingly arbitrary cancellations, like proposals rejected over the word "inequality."
He contrasts this with past practice where budget adjustments involved planning and congressional input.

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