Less than 24 hours after Donald Trump (R) defeated Vice President Kamala Harris (D) and won a second term as U.S. president, science advocates are still trying to decipher what his return to the Oval Office could mean for the U.S. research community.
There is no shortage of gloom about the next 4 years, given Trump’s track record, the divisive campaign he waged, and the likelihood that his fellow Republicans will control both chambers of Congress. “It could be a very dark time for universities,” says one higher education lobbyist, referring to the escalating attacks by Republicans on how academic institutions have handled everything from collaborations with China to pro-Palestinian student protests on campus.
At the same time, another lobbyist takes consolation in the traditionally bipartisan support for science. “I don’t see why the next 4 years should be any different,” the research advocate says. “Trump understands the value of basic research in fueling innovation, and we’re going to be looking for opportunities to take advantage of that support.” The lobbyists requested anonymity because they work with both parties.
There are far more questions than answers, in part because Trump and his appointees do not have full control of science funding and policy. For example, Trump will get to propose how a mosaic of two dozen federal agencies will spend some $200 billion annually on research. But Congress will have the final say. And on any particular spending or policy issue, there are factions within the Republican Party shaped by local interests, and they don’t always agree.
