Congress and Courts Block Trump Science Budget Cuts

The United States Congress and federal courts have largely rebuffed efforts by Donald Trump to drastically cut federal scientific research funding. Despite administration proposals to slash the National Science Foundation budget by nearly 57%, NASA by 24%, and the National Institutes of Health by over 40%, a recently signed funding package kept most agency budgets roughly flat. The National Institutes of Health will actually receive a $415 million increase over 2025 levels.

Legal challenges from the American Civil Liberties Union further protected research funding by blocking administration attempts to cap indirect research costs and forcing the National Institutes of Health to resume reviews of stalled grants. The White House Office of Management and Budget praised the resulting congressional funding bill for adhering to a fiscally responsible agreement that avoids a bloated omnibus package.

Despite these legislative and legal victories, the scientific community has suffered significant losses. Over 10,000 doctorate-trained experts have departed the federal government, and thousands of layoffs occurred at NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Additionally, disrupted clinical trials have affected 74,000 participants.