Following its inauguration, the Trump administration has swiftly indicated a lack of interest in supporting scientific research. By the end of January, significant science agencies had initiated pauses in research funding, and grants have yet to return to their prior levels since that time. Numerous individual grants have faced scrutiny based on ideological grounds, with agencies such as the National Science Foundation anticipating substantial budget cuts. This shift has prompted a contentious situation for several universities, initiating with an ongoing dispute with Columbia University over a substantial $400 million in research funding.
The momentum against university research seems to have accelerated recently, following multiple announcements of funding freezes impacting various institutions. Prolonged freezes could significantly impact research initiatives at the affected universities.
On Wednesday, it was reported by Science that the National Institutes of Health has suspended all research funding to Columbia University. This decision comes despite the university’s compliance with prior demands from the administration, including the resignation of its acting president. In 2024, Columbia had been awarded nearly $700 million in grants from the NIH, primarily benefiting its renowned medical and public health schools.
However, the implications extend far beyond a single institution. On Tuesday, the Trump administration imposed a freeze on all research funding to both Northwestern University (approximately $800 million) and Cornell University (about $1 billion). This funding encompasses grants from various government agencies, including a substantial portion from the Department of Defense in the case of Cornell University. These actions appear to stem from the universities’ handling of protests related to the Gaza conflict, which the administration has labeled as fostering antisemitism.
