Trump administration’s attack on university research accelerates

With billions in grants put on hold, targeted universities will see research crippled.

See full article...

 

[muddledzen]

It's hard to pick just one thing out of all of the Currently Competing Catastrophes, but putting my own personal feelings about LGBTQ and women's rights aside, the impacts of these attacks on science and research are what I'd put money on will have the longest lasting effects of Trump 2.0.

Maybe that's tied with gutting federal workers too.

 

[fuzzyfuzzyfungus]

Can someone explain this detail to me? Why is it that the administration is whining relentlessly about Ukraine not groveling enough; but actively doing domestic enforcement for Israeli PR attempts?

On an allegedly-MAGA basis; what's in it for us to be making a shambles of our university system for somebody else's PR flacks?

 

[LostFate]

It's hard to pick just one thing out of all of the Currently Competing Catastrophes, but putting my own personal feelings about LGBTQ and women's rights aside, the impacts of these attacks on science and research are what I'd put money on will have the longest lasting effects of Trump 2.0.

Maybe that's tied with gutting federal workers too.

Absolutely not, the disenfranchisement of voters will dwarf everything else they do and it'll be completed by midterms.

 

[muddledzen]

Can someone explain this detail to me? Why is it that the administration is whining relentlessly about Ukraine not groveling enough; but actively doing domestic enforcement for Israeli PR attempts?

On an allegedly-MAGA basis; what's in it for us to be making a shambles of our university system for somebody else's PR flacks?

I mean we've been Israel's PR mouthpiece for decades, it's a bipartisan affair.

Destroying the universities also satisfies the anti-woke agenda.

 

[yumegaze]

On Wednesday, Science learned that the National Institutes of Health has frozen all of its research funding to Columbia, despite the university agreeing to steps previously demanded by the administration and the resignation of its acting president.

are you saying that complying to an absurd, fascistic request doesn't guarantee you reciprocity? color me surprised! (/s)

once americans finally return to their retrotopia, what then? bring back plantations and a life expectancy of 35 years? trying to see any modicum of rationality in a fundamentally irrational ideology is what will kill me.

 

[muddledzen]

Absolutely not, the disenfranchisement of voters will dwarf everything else they do and it'll be completed by midterms.

That's fair, though I think gutting U.S. research will have even more global impacts.

 

[LostFate]

Can someone explain this detail to me? Why is it that the administration is whining relentlessly about Ukraine not groveling enough; but actively doing domestic enforcement for Israeli PR attempts?

On an allegedly-MAGA basis; what's in it for us to be making a shambles of our university system for somebody else's PR flacks?

An educated populace is a threat to their consolidation of power. They don't need (and certainly don't want) people who ask questions. They want everyone to shut up and do what they're told.

 

[SnoopCatt]

The funding "pause" looks a lot like a mobster shakedown. One university will be actually punished by having research funding cut-off (sorry Cornell, looks like it might be you), while the others are forced to watch and absorb the lesson: 'behave yourselves, do what we tell you, or else'

 

[trashcanman]

Absolutely not, the disenfranchisement of voters will dwarf everything else they do and it'll be completed by midterms.

My money is on the lives lost when they declare martial law and turn the military and unidentified “law enforcement” and paramilitary contractors like Erik Prince’s private army against the people protesting their treasonous crime spree, and US citizens end up in 3rd country slave labor prisons or detention camps in who knows where.

 

[fractl]

The funding "pause" looks a lot like a mobster shakedown. One university will be actually punished by having research funding cut-off (sorry Cornell, looks like it might be you), while the others are forced to watch and absorb the lesson: 'behave yourselves, do what we tell you, or else'

Straight out of Orban's playbook.

 

[caramelpolice]

Can someone explain this detail to me? Why is it that the administration is whining relentlessly about Ukraine not groveling enough; but actively doing domestic enforcement for Israeli PR attempts?

On an allegedly-MAGA basis; what's in it for us to be making a shambles of our university system for somebody else's PR flacks?

A lot of Americans, especially of the older generation and the far-right, are hardcore Christian nationalists who think Israel's existence is a prerequisite to fulfilling Revelation prophecies and claiming their place in heaven in the Rapture.

I wish I was fucking joking.

 

[DarthSlack]

In my view, universities, especially the ivy league ones, are wasting incredible amounts of money. The last time I went back to my college I was astonished by the inefficiency. Student debt is just a big FU to american students. It is insane. I think everyone would agree that research is vital to the state of the US, now more than ever. But the amount of wasted money, fraudulent research and just plain entitlement is not viable. Maybe the shock and fallout from what I am sure will end up being a temporary cut will force some accountability.

The simple fact is the US is broke, our deficit is insane and is completely unsustainable. I am 80% convinced that a recession is coming in hard. The only way the government can raise money is by borrowing from investors and printing money. We really have to get control of spending or it is going to get ugly.

Please point to how Trump's attacks on universities, or indeed, ANY of Trump's policies will have a meaningful impact on the deficit. Seriously, link to Trump's plan to solve the deficit.

 

[C.M. Allen]

Attacking educational institutions that provide information and education that undermines and exposes a corrupt government -- straight out of the Third Reich handbook.

 

[yumegaze]

It's hard to pick just one thing out of all of the Currently Competing Catastrophes, but putting my own personal feelings about LGBTQ and women's rights aside, the impacts of these attacks on science and research are what I'd put money on will have the longest lasting effects of Trump 2.0.

Maybe that's tied with gutting federal workers too.

destroying the government has a mostly national impact (organizations like USAID are obvious exceptions, for example), but science is borderless. everyone in the world will be feeling the consequences, and real fast. but, well, it's not like we need scientific advancements to further improve on our quality of life! touches earpiece oh, what was that?

 

[hpsgrad]

Can someone explain this detail to me? Why is it that the administration is whining relentlessly about Ukraine not groveling enough; but actively doing domestic enforcement for Israeli PR attempts?

On an allegedly-MAGA basis; what's in it for us to be making a shambles of our university system for somebody else's PR flacks?

It punishes two out-groups: liberal ‘elite’ intellectuals, and Palestinian ‘terrorists’.

Punishing out-groups is both an end in itself, and a tool to drive compliance for others who might criticize the administration.

That’s it, IMO. There is no greater plan or goal than demonstrating power.

As for the damage to US research institutions, those institutions and their output are not valued by the regime or the movement that supports it, so the damage is of no concern. Someone else will clean that up and someone else will pay those bills.

 

[Dr. Jay]

The simple fact is the US is broke, our deficit is insane and is completely unsustainable. I am 80% convinced that a recession is coming in hard. The only way the government can raise money is by borrowing from investors and printing money. We really have to get control of spending or it is going to get ugly.

So, the idea of a tax increase, say, back to the rates found during the Clinton years, is not something that you'd seriously consider? You'd rather completely cripple scientific research instead?

 

[wracked]

I have no words for how much damage this will do.

 

[muddledzen]

destroying the government has a mostly national impact (organizations like USAID are obvious exceptions, for example), but science is borderless. everyone in the world will be feeling the consequences, and real fast. but, well, it's not like we need scientific advancements to further improve on our quality of life! touches earpiece oh, what was that?

Agree, the only reason I lumped federal workers in there is that they were/are responsible for massive amounts of assistance globally that the U.S. does every year as well, leaving a lot of folks in the lurch without those programs having functional levels of staffing.

 

[clackerd]

https://www.politico.com/news/2025/04/09/donald-trump-retribution-miles-taylor-00007512

He's petty and dirty af - this story pales in comparison to siccing his DOJ on former adminstration hires who said mean honest things about him

 

[Team Tardigrade]

But the amount of wasted money, fraudulent research and just plain entitlement is not viable.

Just because the research is looking at things you don't agree with or comes to conclusions you personally don't like doesn't mean it's fraudulent or wasted. It's means that YOU are in the wrong.

 

[mknelson]

CBC radio this morning was interviewing somebody from the University of Toronto and another research body from Ontario about moves to hire researchers from the US.

They were mostly looking for new graduates.

Welcome!

 

[approximate_pi]

Can someone explain this detail to me? Why is it that the administration is whining relentlessly about Ukraine not groveling enough; but actively doing domestic enforcement for Israeli PR attempts?

On an allegedly-MAGA basis; what's in it for us to be making a shambles of our university system for somebody else's PR flacks?

They're not doing Netanyahu's PR work per se, they're using antisemitism as an excuse to go scorched earth on higher education and science, and intimidate scientists, research institutions, and students. As a Jew it particularly worries me because the blowback will fall on us, which is likely by design of this admin, who have no particular love of Jews after all.

If the Gaza protests hadnt been around they would have used something else as an excuse to do the same thing with different theoretical targets that hit generally the same people and institutions.

 

[Sajuuk]

I mean we've been Israel's PR mouthpiece for decades, it's a bipartisan affair.

Destroying the universities also satisfies the anti-woke agenda.

I'm gonna live long enough to see multiple genocides committed (one fully, one partially) in the name of saving the Jewish people.

All I can do is snort and drink.

 

[s73v3r]

In my view, universities, especially the ivy league ones, are wasting incredible amounts of money.

Nobody cares about your incorrect view.

The simple fact is the US is broke

That's not even remotely close to true.

 

[caramelpolice]

They're not doing Netanyahu's PR work per se, they're using antisemitism as an excuse to go scorched earth on higher education and science, and intimidate scientists, research institutions, and students. As a Jew it particularly worries me because the blowback will fall on us, which is likely by design of this admin, who have no particular love of Jews after all.

If the Gaza protests hadnt been around they would have used something else as an excuse to do the same thing with different theoretical targets that hit generally the same people and institutions.

I mean, it's a bit of both. There's been plenty of even Democratic politicians who have been downright eager to condemn pro-Palestinian protestors at universities.

 

[Lemonhead78]

OK OK OK! What this comment section needs is a Strong Man. And I am here to provide.

Soooo. Princeton! Seriously!! They are basically ONLY known for ineffectual hyper-efficient basketball. It works once in a century. That's it.

Otherwise we should be pausing all activities at all Ivy league schools (non-sports related as we love all things ineffectual and hyper-efficient) until we can root out the waste and fraud present in these institutions.

 

[OldPhartReef]

A lot of Americans, especially of the older generation and the far-right, are hardcore Christian nationalists who think Israel's existence is a prerequisite to fulfilling Revelation prophecies and claiming their place in heaven in the Rapture.

I wish I was fucking joking.

Too bad it's illegal to rapidly accelerate their rapture.

 

[s73v3r]

With all of the capitulation, and then still getting nothing, why would any student choose Colombia University?

 

[Nihilus]

In my view, universities, especially the ivy league ones, are wasting incredible amounts of money. The last time I went back to my college I was astonished by the inefficiency. Student debt is just a big FU to american students. It is insane. I think everyone would agree that research is vital to the state of the US, now more than ever. But the amount of wasted money, fraudulent research and just plain entitlement is not viable. Maybe the shock and fallout from what I am sure will end up being a temporary cut will force some accountability.

The simple fact is the US is broke, our deficit is insane and is completely unsustainable. I am 80% convinced that a recession is coming in hard. The only way the government can raise money is by borrowing from investors and printing money. We really have to get control of spending or it is going to get ugly.

I think the most painful point to take from comments like this is that Trump's actions likely will bring about a significant recession, which will then be taken as confirmation of these views.

I have already seen similar views elsewhere regarding a recession having been "due" because of [insert vague reason here]. I can see this quite effectively insulating Trump from the economic fallout of his actions with his base.

 

[muddledzen]

They're not doing Netanyahu's PR work per se, they're using antisemitism as an excuse to go scorched earth on higher education and science, and intimidate scientists, research institutions, and students. As a Jew it particularly worries me because the blowback will fall on us, which is likely by design of this admin, who have no particular love of Jews after all.

If the Gaza protests hadnt been around they would have used something else as an excuse to do the same thing with different theoretical targets that hit generally the same people and institutions.

It's always been really interesting to me (when it's not horrifying on so many levels) how the right can be simultaneously extremely antisemitic themselves and still vehemently supportive of Israeli apartheid.

I guess being internally inconsistent has been their modus operandi, so I shouldn't be surprised.

 

[graylshaped]

Using federal funds to perpetuate these narratives does not align with the priorities of this Administration and such time and resources can be better utilized elsewhere.

Thanks, Obama. You HAD to go and make fun of him at that press dinner, didn't you...

 

[Navalia Vigilate]

Why?

Leader of the pro-Trump Project 2025 suggests there will be a new American Revolution ​

Kevin Roberts said the revolution will be bloodless “if the left allows it to be.”
By Associated Press
07/04/2024 12:04 AM EDT

NEW YORK — The leader of a conservative think tank orchestrating plans for a massive overhaul of the federal government in the event of a Republican presidential win said that the country is in the midst of a “second American Revolution” that will be bloodless “if the left allows it to be.”

Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts made the comments Tuesday on Steve Bannon’s “War Room” podcast, adding that Republicans are “in the process of taking this country back.”

 

[graylshaped]

In my view...

Thank you for sharing the results of your studies. Using this information has allowed me to take steps to promptly handle all future messages from you for maximum system efficiency.

Zero waste!

 

[C.M. Allen]

Why?

Because you can't 'take back' a country that was never yours to begin with. So they have to silence and squash any and all dissent. And bloodless? They've already killed people in their efforts to seize power. And now that they're in power, they're also making people disappear. This is a party of traitors and murders. This was never bloodless. And if they meet hostile resistance, they've more than earned it.

 

[JoHBE]

No worries, give it 5 hours or so, and the NEXT hysterical clown show act will have wiped out all memories of this.

 

[RamboIT]

That's fair, though I think gutting U.S. research will have even more global impacts.

I think the biggest impact will be China permanently moving beyond the US levels of excellence in importance research and technology. This is sad. All the US will have, if this continues, is Facebook, Windows, and two thousand dollar smartphones.

 

[password123]

The funding "pause" looks a lot like a mobster shakedown. One university will be actually punished by having research funding cut-off (sorry Cornell, looks like it might be you), while the others are forced to watch and absorb the lesson: 'behave yourselves, do what we tell you, or else'

That's a nice research program you have there, be a shame if something were to happen to it.

 

[Amarillo3]

Raise tuition on GOP kids to offset the loss.

Show the public very clearly what it means to lose (for example) Alzheimers research funding.

Band together.