The World: Trump Is at War with American Science, Risking America’s Technological Leadership to China

After Trump's second inauguration, he launched a comprehensive overhaul of the U.S. research system. He seeks to reassert administrative and political control over scientific research. The damage caused by the Trump administration's reforms has already begun to surface, and the United States may pay a significant long-term price. The greatest risk lies in the increasingly intense technological competition between the U.S. and China.

The Trump administration announced that starting this October, future research projects receiving government funding must align with "government priorities."

On Tuesday, *Le Monde* analyzed a series of executive orders related to science signed by Trump after his return to the White House, stating that since his second term began, Trump has initiated a sweeping reform of the U.S. research system.

To Trump, American science has been corrupted by left-wing ideologies and "woke" thinking. As a result, he is attempting to regain control over the research system through administrative and political measures.

Trump Declares War on American Science

First, the Trump administration canceled Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs at universities and banned the use of terms such as “climate crisis,” “diversity,” “pollution,” and “women”—projects using these words risk losing government funding. Meanwhile, numerous databases have been restricted or even deleted. At the same time, large-scale layoffs are taking place within research institutions and departments. Research in areas including climate, environment, and anti-discrimination has been severely impacted.

Subsequently, the Trump administration announced drastic cuts to the 2026 research budget: NASA’s budget will be reduced by 24%; the National Institutes of Health (NIH) budget will drop by 40%; and the National Science Foundation (NSF), which funds university research, will see its budget slashed by as much as 56.9%.

This means that it is no longer just a few politically controversial research fields being weakened—rather, the entire U.S. research system is under attack.

Now, the Trump administration has declared that starting this October, all future research projects eligible for government funding must meet “government priorities.”

This marks a more significant shift: in the past, whether a research project received funding was primarily decided by panels composed of scientists; now, expert opinions will only serve as references. To secure funding, projects must also align with “government priorities.” Ultimately, decision-making power will shift further into the hands of government officials rather than scientists. One American scientist once said that the reason the U.S. built the most powerful research system in history was due to a simple principle: give money to the best ideas, let the most talented experts choose them, and avoid excessive interference. Now, the Trump administration’s reforms are systematically undermining that very principle.

Damages Are Already Evident

*Le Monde* reports that the damage caused by the Trump administration’s reforms is already becoming apparent: Ph.D. enrollment at U.S. universities is declining, and foreign students of outstanding ability are beginning to worry about U.S. visas and the research environment, making them hesitant to pursue advanced studies in America. Some American scientific organizations have even moved international conferences overseas to continue attracting global talent. Scientific research requires long-term, stable conditions—but political interference and funding uncertainty may make it increasingly difficult for the U.S. to retain top-tier international talent. The Trump administration is eroding the foundation that previously enabled America to maintain long-term technological superiority.

Potential for China to Surpass the U.S.

By cutting basic research funding, restricting international collaboration, expelling foreign scientists, and replacing professional standards with political ones, Trump may gain short-term political benefits—but at the cost of greater losses in long-term technological competition.

The U.S. may face substantial long-term consequences. The biggest risk lies in the intensifying technological rivalry with China.

*Le Monde* emphasizes that China has already surpassed the U.S. in multiple scientific indicators.

Since 2019, China has led the world in patent applications; since 2023, it has also surpassed the U.S. in scientific paper publications, with an expanding lead; in 2024, China’s R&D investment exceeded that of the United States.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration increasingly views China as its primary competitor. While Trump aims to strengthen America, the U.S. scientific community is growing increasingly concerned: if the U.S. continues to weaken its research system while China steadily increases investment and cultivates talent, America risks losing its global technological leadership in the future.

Trump wants to stay ahead in competition with China—but by undermining his own research advantages, he may inadvertently help China catch up, or even surpass, the United States.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1875191811679232/

Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author