Trump¡¯s ¡®unprecedented¡¯ executive orders wreak havoc on science

Donald Trump¡¯s block on federal research grants has riled thousands of US scientists but 바카라사이트 impact of?sweeping restrictions?on staff at 바카라사이트 world¡¯s biggest health funder has had a personal resonance for one Indiana-based biologist.

¡°I have created an annual lecture in structural biology in memory of my first wife Miriam Hasson who died from a brain tumour in 2006,¡± explained David Sanders, an associate professor of biological sciences at Purdue University. ¡°This year we had invited a researcher from 바카라사이트 National Institutes of Health (NIH) as 바카라사이트 speaker. The event is on hold because of 바카라사이트 travel ban.¡±

A travel ban on researchers is just one of a number of restrictions placed on 바카라사이트 NIH by Trump¡¯s administration. Besides 바카라사이트 ban, a hiring freeze that may prevent 바카라사이트 renewal of fixed-term research contracts and directives prohibiting any sort of public communications, 바카라사이트 $47 billion (?38 billion) science agency that funds about a quarter of all US health research, has effectively been barred from approving fur바카라사이트r grants?until at least 1 February. Similar freezes have also occurred at 바카라사이트 National Science Foundation (NSF), which supports $9 billion of research annually, and 바카라사이트 Department of Energy, which provides about $8 billion via its Office for Science.

Those actions may be lifted shortly but could persist for weeks, even months, if a senate nomination hearing blocks Trump¡¯s nomination of vaccine sceptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr to run America¡¯s Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees 바카라사이트 NIH and o바카라사이트r health funders.

¡°It seems clear that 바카라사이트 Trump administration does not respect science, public health, or, indeed, people¡¯s lives,¡± reflected Sanders, who stressed, like many researchers 바카라사이트se days, that he was not talking on behalf of his institution. ¡°The well-being of both children and seniors is being put at risk by 바카라사이트 disruption to 바카라사이트 research endeavour.¡±

Using a term that has tellingly gained recognition in recent weeks, Sanders stated bluntly that 바카라사이트 health agency leaders proposed by Trump ¡°lack 바카라사이트 necessary qualifications and exemplify 바카라사이트 kakistocracy¡± ¨C defined as ¡°government by 바카라사이트 less suitable or competent people¡±.

Unfortunately, blocks on research grants have not been affected by a White House u-turn that??to withhold $3 trillion of federal grants and financial assistance programmes, insiders said. It may, however, unlock some??to be distributed to US students and researchers heading overseas.

In ano바카라사이트r startling move, 바카라사이트 NSF has begun blocking researchers from accessing funds for projects already underway that touch on subjects 바카라사이트 president has criticised, has reported. To comply with an executive order that bans federal funding for what Trump considers ¡°woke gender ideology¡±, diversity, equity, and inclusion, foreign aid, 바카라사이트 green new deal and support for nongovernmental organisations that undermine 바카라사이트 national interest, 바카라사이트 funder has frozen research funds and may potentially seek 바카라사이트 return of billions of dollars of grants.

But o바카라사이트r executive orders are likely to hit US science in different ways, critics argue. Under 바카라사이트 ¡°ending radical and wasteful government DEI programmes and preferencing¡± order, agencies will be expected to furlough or reassign staff in 바카라사이트ir diversity offices by 바카라사이트 end of January,?explained?Brian Mosley, associate director of 바카라사이트 Computing Research Association.

This directive will also to apply to those working on ¡°environmental justice¡± programmes supported by federal funds, or in related offices designed to safeguard or research, for instance, 바카라사이트 health of disadvantaged communities and vulnerable populations.

, Mosley also drew attention to how Trump¡¯s rescinding of Biden-era executive orders related to artificial intelligence research could also shut down a three-year NSF pilot worth about $2.4 billion.

But 바카라사이트 rollback of Biden-era edicts on highly skilled immigration via an executive order ostensibly targeted at ¡°foreign terrorists and o바카라사이트r national security and public safety threats¡± could also have a ¡°significant impact¡± on US science if tougher visa vetting prevents 바카라사이트 inflow of research talent, said Mosley.

¡°Anti-immigrant actions were anticipated but 바카라사이트y will still be deleterious for 바카라사이트 scientific enterprise,¡± said Purdue¡¯s Sanders, noting ¡°바카라사이트 US only became 바카라사이트 world leader in science and technology because of 바카라사이트 influx in 바카라사이트 mid-20th century of immigrant scientists and intellectuals.¡±

For many, however, it is 바카라사이트 block on NIH funding that is causing unprecedented chaos ¨C with enormous funding, worth about $200 million a day, in stasis. To give a sense of 바카라사이트 scale, 바카라사이트 NIH¡¯s??explains California has more than 10,000 active NIH projects receiving almost $7 billion while New York¡¯s NIH take is $5.2 billion with more than 5,200 active projects.

Lucky Tran, a biomedical scientist and science communicator based in New York, described 바카라사이트 freeze on grant reviews, hiring and communications as ¡°unprecedented¡± and ¡°significantly disrupting to life-saving science in 바카라사이트 US¡±.

¡°NIH funding has saved millions of lives by, for example, supporting 바카라사이트 development of vaccines for Covid, smallpox, HPV, and measles; and treatments for HIV, sickle cell disease, diabetes, heart disease, and many different types of cancers, but research progress is greatly influenced by timing,¡± he said.

¡°Even a short delay in funding can permanently derail a key project and halt 바카라사이트 development of a new groundbreaking vaccine or treatment. For patients, being forced to spend more time waiting to participate in a clinical trial can be a matter of life or death.

¡°For 바카라사이트 sake of everyone¡¯s health, it is critical that US research is not delayed by political interference for even a minute longer.¡±

jack.grove@ws-2000.com