A new report reveals that former President Donald Trump is pushing to slash funding for basic scientific research by about a third if he returns to office. This would impact foundational studies across fields like medicine, energy, and technology—the kind of work that often leads to breakthroughs but doesn’t always have immediate commercial payoffs. Critics argue it could stifle innovation, while supporters might frame it as trimming unnecessary spending.

Editor’s Note: Basic research is the backbone of long-term progress—think vaccines, renewable energy, or even the internet. Cutting it this deeply could slow down discoveries that fuel economic growth and solve big problems. Whether you see this as fiscal discipline or short-sightedness depends on your view of government’s role in science, but it’s a move with ripple effects far beyond the lab.

The Trump administration is pushing ahead with major cost-cutting at NASA, leading to the departure of over 2,000 senior employees through early retirement and buyouts. These cuts hit key areas like science, engineering, and human spaceflight—just as NASA is gearing up for ambitious Moon and Mars missions. Experts warn this could slow down progress on those projects, especially with proposed budget reductions looming.

Editor’s Note: This isn’t just about trimming numbers—it’s a shake-up that could delay America’s big space ambitions. With experienced staff leaving and budgets tightening, missions like returning to the Moon or reaching Mars might get pushed back. For anyone watching space exploration, this signals a rocky road ahead.

Scientists and researchers staged a unique protest—dubbed a "Science Fair of Lost Research"—outside a congressional office building to showcase the groundbreaking studies that could vanish if proposed budget cuts to science funding go through. They displayed posters and mock-ups of future research that may never happen, making the abstract threat of funding losses painfully tangible.

Editor’s Note: This isn’t just about numbers in a budget—it’s about discoveries that could cure diseases, tackle climate change, or spark new technologies. If funding dries up, those breakthroughs might never see the light of day. The protest is a creative way to show lawmakers exactly what’s at stake when science budgets get slashed.

A group of scientists awarded a prestigious U.S. climate fellowship have been abruptly placed on unpaid leave due to bureaucratic delays in funding distribution. The fellowship, designed to support critical climate research, now leaves recipients in financial limbo, raising concerns about the stability of scientific funding and its impact on long-term environmental studies.

Every former NASA science chief still alive has signed a letter to Congress pushing back against Trump’s proposed budget cuts, arguing they’d cripple key missions, slash future programs, and undermine America’s dominance in space exploration. The letter specifically targets the FY2026 budget, calling it a major threat to scientific progress.