College Matters from The Chronicle The Research Trump Hates
Sep 24, 2025
Stephanie M. Lee, a senior writer at The Chronicle of Higher Education, delves into the Trump administration's drastic cuts to federal research funding. She discusses the impact on vital studies in vaccine hesitancy, gender identity, and climate change, revealing how politicized funding is reshaping the research landscape. Lee highlights the economic repercussions for communities, the practical harms of halted research, and the long-term fears among scientists regarding career stability and U.S. scientific leadership. This conversation uncovers the precarious future of academic research.
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Large-Scale Ideological Grant Cuts
- The NIH and NSF have cut thousands of grants tied to topics the administration labels ideological, like DEI, transgender issues, climate, and vaccine hesitancy.
- Those terminations total at least billions and are reshaping what research gets funded nationwide.
Language Triggers Shape Applications
- Scientists are being advised to change language in applications to avoid flagged words like "Latinx" or "diverse" to improve funding chances.
- Applications are also being delayed or sidelined, leaving researchers uncertain whether topic or wording triggered the hold.
Economic And Scientific Ripple Effects
- Cutting research harms university budgets, hiring, and local economies because federal grants support staff and students.
- Reducing basic research now risks losing long-term breakthroughs like mRNA vaccines that were decades in the making.