\n

All series · Special series on the news website

The Trump Administration's War on Science

Cuts, censorship, and political interference in American research, universities, and science agencies

A collection of articles that tracks the damage done by Donald Trump's administration to research funding, university independence, climate science, federal agencies, and scientific freedom — from his first term to the current administration.

  1. Stand Up for Science expands to Europe amid fears of populist victories; in Israel, the fight for scientific independence is already in full swing

    Chapter 86

    Stand Up for Science expands to Europe amid fears of populist victories; in Israel, the fight for scientific independence is already in full swing

    The movement that emerged in the US following the cancellation of grants and political interference in research is establishing an international organization in Switzerland. In Israel, a struggle is already underway over the composition of the National Academy of Sciences, research budgets, statements by university heads, and the buffer between the political echelon and the scientific system.

    August 11, 2026 · Avi Blizovsky

  2. Europe warns: Trump's grant rules could isolate American science

    Chapter 85

    Europe warns: Trump's grant rules could isolate American science

    OMB proposal gives political appointees more power over funding decisions, limits collaborations with designated adversaries, and makes it harder to publish papers and attend conferences. European research organizations fear long-term harm to international scientific collaboration

    July 23, 2026 · Avi Blizovsky

  3. Climate crisis becomes a culture war: How populism is hindering the fight

    Chapter 84

    Climate crisis becomes a culture war: How populism is hindering the fight

    As evidence of warming becomes more tangible, climate denial is not disappearing but changing form: Instead of simply challenging the science, populist leaders are portraying climate policy as a conspiracy by experts and elites against “ordinary citizens.”

    July 18, 2026 · Avi Blizovsky

  4. Illustration depicting the shift of the science center from Europe to the United States and the new scientific competition with China and the European Union

    Chapter 83

    250 years of the United States: This is how the world's greatest scientific power was built — and how it endangers its future

    Germany, Britain, and France dominated science in the early 20th century, but the United States overtook them through the absorption of researchers, long-term public investment, strong universities, and scientific freedom. On the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, budget cuts, the elimination of grants, the weakening of agencies…

    July 3, 2026 · Avi Blizovsky

  7. A moment of science, from the Ignoble Awards 2017. Photo: Mike Binveniste/Improbable Research

    Chapter 80

    After 35 years: Ig Nobel Prize ceremony leaves the US and moves to Zurich

    The organizers of the satirical-scientific event announced that the 2026 ceremony will be held in Switzerland, due to budgetary difficulties, a desire to expand the production team, and especially the growing concern of international winners and journalists about coming to the US during the Trump administration.

    March 17, 2026 · Avi Blizovsky

  10. US President Donald Trump downplays the importance of scientific findings regarding global warming in the event of withdrawing from the Paris Agreement. Screenshot from YOUTUBE

    Chapter 77

    The National Academy of Sciences warns: Discussions on withdrawing from the Paris Agreement and the Climate Convention could harm science, the economy, and national security

    The Steering Committee for Dealing with the Climate Crisis appealed on January 26, 2026, to Environmental Protection Minister Idit Silman and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar following publications about considering withdrawing from the UN climate agreements, and called for public clarification, full transparency, and strengthening Israel's involvement in frameworks...

    February 4, 2026 · Avi Blizovsky

  13. Tylenol. Illustration: depositphotos.com

    Chapter 74

    Trump warns against using Tylenol during pregnancy and promotes new autism drug – Medical community: No conclusive evidence

    President Trump declared that acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol (paracetamol), may increase the risk of autism during pregnancy, and promoted the use of leucovorin as an experimental treatment. Researchers and medical associations emphasize: There is no causal evidence, Tylenol is considered safe in controlled doses, and treatment with leucovorin…

    September 23, 2025 · Avi Blizovsky

  19. US President Donald Trump as a judge in the Apes trial (Scopes trial), as he continues to oppose science as represented by Harvard University. Illustration by Avi Blizovsky via ideogram.ai

    Chapter 68

    A century after the Apes trial: America is once again persecuting science

    In 1925, a teacher who taught evolution was put on trial in an event known as the “Monkey Trial”; in 2025, the Trump administration is once again harassing universities, firing scientists, and reintroducing religion into public schools. History repeats itself—in a more fanatical and powerful version

    July 12, 2025 · Avi Blizovsky

  20. The entrance to the National Science Foundation building. Employees received a sudden evacuation order. Illustration: depositphotos.com

    Chapter 67

    US science agencies under attack: grants are being cut, journal subscriptions are being canceled, and NSF headquarters is being closed

    The journal Science reports on a series of decisions by the Trump administration that are harming American science – favoring artificial intelligence and quantum computing, excluding life sciences, and cutting support for groundbreaking research are sparking a wave of protest in the academic community. * NSF headquarters also…

    July 1, 2025 · Avi Blizovsky

  21. The Earth is burning, but climate crisis denial is at its peak. Illustration: depositphotos.com

    Chapter 66

    Anti-environmentalism on the rise but full of contradictions

    Despite the great public popularity of environmental protection, populist politicians adopt hostile positions towards green goals – contrary to conservative tradition and the reality outside the window

    June 3, 2025 · The Conversation science website

  26. Although the US Constitution explicitly prohibits presidential candidacy beyond two terms, polls show that Donald Trump's supporters are willing to vote for him again in 2028. Illustration Ideogram.ai

    Chapter 61

    Who is in favor of eliminating democracy?

    How economic and security promises distract supporters from giving up civil rights and strengthening anti-democratic leaders, and why populist rulers claim they have come to save democracy

    May 2, 2025 · The Conversation science website

  29. USA 2025. Destruction and devastation. Illustration: depositphotos.com

    Chapter 58

    What does Trump want from universities?

    Trump is demanding the appointment of conservatives to various positions to balance what he calls a leftist bias in academia. But that's not enough for him, and he's demanding that research directions be determined and holding government research budgets for academia hostage.

    April 17, 2025 · Avi Blizovsky

  31. When Western countries have a demand for wood for construction, for example, they will obtain it from countries where trees are still cut down for these purposes. Illustration: depositphotos.com

    Chapter 56

    False environmental policy

    Globalization allows for the rapid movement of goods, allowing rich countries to preserve their nature but at the cost of harming the nature of poor countries.

    April 8, 2025 · Zavit - Science and Environmental News Agency

  34. If Carl Sagan were alive today, this is what he would say to US President Donald Trump, the temple of ignorance

    Chapter 53

    "Carl Sagan's Prophecy: When Science Collapses Before Populism"

    In his book "A World Haunted by Demons," he writes: "Immense technological power will be concentrated in so few hands that none of those who are supposed to represent the public interest will even be able to understand what things mean." Isn't this an accurate description of the present?

    March 10, 2025 · Avi Blizovsky

  37. Youth protest for climate justice. Illustration: depositphotos.com

    Chapter 50

    There is no room for environmental justice in Trump's dictatorship.

    Among the areas that were decided to be eliminated "for reasons of efficiency" is the area of ​​environmental justice, which is the responsibility of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA). During 2025, 171 EPA employees were sent on administrative leave - 160 of whom dealt with environmental justice issues such as air pollution monitoring...

    March 4, 2025 · Avi Blizovsky

  43. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) headquarters in Maryland with classical architecture and the symbol of American public health. Illustration: depositphotos.com

    Chapter 44

    Medical research in the US faces collapse due to NIH budget freeze

    Frozen studies and clinical trials of innovative treatments are facing a halt. Research review committees have been silenced, communication with scientists and the public is muted * The scientific community demands explanations

    January 29, 2025 · Avi Blizovsky

  45. Indigenous people from Brazil protest in Brussels against the environmental injustices inflicted on them, October 2022. Illustration: depositphotos.com

    Chapter 42

    The stirring forces behind the emergence of autocracies instead of democratic regimes

    Oil tycoons, led by the Koch family - a family of energy and oil refining tycoons from Texas - have excessive influence over many governments around the world, which do not take into account the needs of their residents, science and environmental considerations. This happened when the governments were still democratic. Now that the world…

    January 15, 2025 · Avi Blizovsky

  50. The competition for the preeminence in science between China and the USA, in preparation for the 2024 US presidential elections. The image was prepared using DALEE and is not a scientific image

    Chapter 37

    Is the US about to lose its scientific preeminence?

    A study published in Nature finds that the US continues to lead in areas such as biomedical research, but China's continued investment in materials science, engineering and physical sciences poses a significant challenge to US dominance. The upcoming elections could determine the direction…

    October 26, 2024 · The Conversation science website

  55. Demonstrators against the coup in Tel Aviv, 2023. Illustration: depositphotos.com

    Chapter 32

    Four ways populists endanger democracy

    The populists are lying when they claim they want to empower us all by denying judges the authority to oversee democracy. They really want to break through the strongest constitutional barrier against authoritarianism

    July 21, 2023 · The Conversation science website

  56. Former US President Donald Trump. Increased polarization. Illustration: depositphotos.com

    Chapter 31

    On politics and emotional polarization

    What are the sources and patterns of hatred, resentment and bitterness towards political opponents? The study does indeed deal with the USA, which exported this polarization to the whole world during the Trump era

    April 14, 2023 · Voice of Science website - National Science Foundation

  57. The three monkeys - an illustration of the fooling process. Image: depositphotos.com

    Chapter 30

    Stupidity defeated democracy

    Stupidify Stupidify according to the Oxford dictionary. There are too many people who want the citizens to be stupid. Democracy fell when ancient Rome became an empire, the end is known. Everything should be done to stop the process

    June 28, 2022 · Avi Blizovsky

  61. The invasion of Trump supporters into the Capitol, January 6, 2021. Photo: shutterstock

    Chapter 26

    How the behavioral economy destroys democracy - and how to save it

    I want to tell you today how the behavioral economy destroys democracy. As we saw last week in the storming of the Capitol building in Washington, it's a sad story, but I'll give you a spoiler at the end: the situation can be saved

    January 14, 2021 · Dr. Roy Tsezana

  63. A protester near the European Union offices in Brussels, 27/6/2020. A green demonstration in the shadow of the corona. Photo: shutterstock

    Chapter 24

    Three thoughts on climate change - in the light of the corona virus

    I was recently asked to record a short talk to open a conference on climate change. Here's what I wrote – and I'd love to hear your thoughts and ideas for further thoughts on the subject! First thought: The coronavirus will change the way we deal with climate change – for the better…

    September 5, 2020 · Dr. Roy Tsezana

  64. Climate change denial. Illustration: shutterstock

    Chapter 23

    Pseudoscience is taking over social media with fake news and putting us all at risk

    New research highlights the key role that social media plays in spreading misinformation that misleads people into thinking it's science. Scientists and those who support them need to be more proactive in developing creative and compelling ways to communicate their findings. But it's important…

    August 4, 2019 · The Conversation science website

  66. US President Donald Trump downplays the importance of scientific findings regarding global warming in the event of withdrawing from the Paris Agreement. Screenshot from YOUTUBE

    Chapter 21

    Who will benefit from dealing with climate change?

    A new economic study predicts that 90 percent of the world's population will be economically destitute following the implementation of the Paris climate change agreement. Will Trump's United States also take part in this move?

    August 6, 2018 · Zavit - Science and Environmental News Agency

  68. It seems that the USA is plunging into an era of isolation and isolation. The White House wants to cancel international agreements, including the Paris Agreement to deal with climate change, and the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), and is using presidential orders to stop or slow down the entry of refugees and the immigrants to the USA. Photo: Michael Vadon.

    Chapter 19

    Science without walls

    Cross-border partnerships mean faster discoveries and a safer world

    February 4, 2018 · Scientific American Israel

  69. Donald Trump at an election rally, during the US presidential campaign, 2016. Photo: Gage Skidmore.

    Chapter 18

    2017 - the year of the destruction of science in the USA

    With the end of President Donald Trump's first year in the White House, the relationship between the President and the US research community is very poor. It is a breakdown of epic proportions, with no fix in sight.

    January 3, 2018 · Avi Blizovsky

  70. Should scientists leave the laboratory and enter politics? Illustration: pixabay.

    Chapter 17

    Should scientists enter politics?

    Opinion: To fight against anti-research policies, it is not enough to march for science. Scientists must engage in long-term political activism

    December 31, 2017 · Scientific American Israel

  71. sprouts Photo: USFWS.

    Chapter 16

    Trump against the Nevatans

    The American government decided not to include many animals in its list of protected species. Is this another part of the president's climate change denial?

    December 20, 2017 · Zavit - Science and Environment News Agency

  75. Jim Bridenstine. Source: United States Congress.

    Chapter 12

    Who is Jim Bridenstine, Trump's nominee for the next NASA administrator?

    Served as a fighter pilot in the US Navy, serves as a Republican congressman from the state of Oklahoma, was associated with the conservative "Tea Party" movement, and expressed doubt about global warming. Who is Jim Bridenstine, the candidate that President Trump has chosen to be the next administrator of NASA?

    September 3, 2017 · Elisaf Kosman

  76. US President Donald Trump downplays the importance of scientific findings regarding global warming in the event of withdrawing from the Paris Agreement. Screenshot from YOUTUBE

    Chapter 11

    How industry fights science

    Is smoking harmful to health? Coal-fired power plants pollute? Plastic poisons the environment? Global warming due to human activity? The people in the industries that cause these damages do everything they can to make you doubt them, or even if you don't, their impact will be stronger...

    September 3, 2017 · Dr. Assaf Rosenthal

  77. US President Donald Trump downplays the importance of scientific findings regarding global warming in the event of withdrawing from the Paris Agreement. Screenshot from YOUTUBE

    Chapter 10

    An alarming finding: a significant proportion of Americans think that scientific research is harmful to society. Opinion/The Middle Ages are upon us

    Presidents of research universities in the US discussed the findings of a PEW survey that showed that almost 60% of Republican supporters and 20% of Democratic supporters do not believe that science has a positive impact on society and even see scientific research as a negative factor, which is already starting to show...

    July 30, 2017 · Avi Blizovsky

  78. Trump signs the presidential order last Friday. Photo: NASA/Aubrey Gemignani.

    Chapter 9

    Trump signed an order resurrecting the National Space Council

    The US President has signed a presidential order to resume the activities of the National Space Council, which was dissolved by President Bill Clinton in 1993. The council will now be headed by Vice President Mike Pence, and it will advise the president on outlining his space policy and coordinate between…

    July 2, 2017 · Elisaf Kosman

  81. The average global warming of 2012 - 2016. Source: NASA.

    Chapter 6

    Where is science marching - on the occasion of the climate march in Tel Aviv, tomorrow, 28/4

    This coming Friday (28/4 at 10:00 a.m. at the corner of Ben Zion and King George streets, the Israeli climate march will be held in Tel Aviv. Along with environmental organizations and just people who care, it is fitting that the members of the scientific community march there with their heads held high

    April 27, 2017 · Zavit - Science and Environmental News Agency

  83. President Donald Trump in the Oval Office, March 13, 2017. Source: The White House and Trump's Twitter account.

    Chapter 4

    Trump's budget proposal: "Funding for climate change research is a waste of money"

    The Trump administration’s 2018 budget proposal includes a one-third cut to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) budget, the elimination of global warming research programs, and the cessation of financial assistance to developing countries under the Paris Agreement. The proposal, which requires congressional approval, also includes…

    March 18, 2017 · Elisaf Kosman

  84. A simulation of the "Asteroid Deflection Mission", which is currently in the planning stages without final approval. According to the mission schedule, a space vehicle, transported by an advanced ion engine, will reach a near-Earth asteroid, land on it and grab a rock block with a mass of several tons and move it into orbit around the moon. There, astronauts in the Orion spacecraft will reach the asteroid piece and return samples from it to Earth. The mission combines both the scientific aspect of asteroid research, but is primarily done to prove and realize advanced electric ion propulsion technology that will assist in future Mars probes. Image: NASA.

    Chapter 3

    The sword of cuts in Trump's budget proposal will not significantly harm NASA

    Despite the widespread budget cuts to civilian agencies and departments, NASA was not significantly hit by the Trump administration's 2018 budget proposal. If the proposal is approved by Congress, NASA's budget would be reduced from $19.3 billion to $19.1 billion. Space exploration programs…

    March 17, 2017 · Elisaf Kosman

Science website logo
SEARCH