U.S. Science Under Siege: Implications for Canada

Photo by PiggyBank on Unsplash

The Trump administration’s escalating actions against the U.S. science establishment – from budget cuts to political interference – will have far-reaching consequences for the US and globally. Canada is likely to be significantly affected, given the deep entanglement between our research institutions and U.S. counterparts. At the same time, it opens new opportunities, if we can step up our game to capitalize on them.

Proposals to reduce funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and National Science Foundation (NSF) by as much as 40-55% are alarming in scale and signal a shift in how science is valued in U.S. policy. Beyond the funding, it will also prove destabilizing due to uncertainty. According to The Guardian, more than $3 billion in NIH and NSF support has been withdrawn in cases that appear tied to politicized criteria. Projects referencing diversity, climate, race, sexual identity, or vaccines have reportedly come under disproportionate scrutiny. Harvard University is suing the Trump administration for suspending nearly $3 billion dollars of research grants to the university in response to the institution’s perceived ideological stances.

These developments signal an erosion of academic independence in American science. If they continue or accelerate, they will undermine scientific progress overall and damage long-standing international research partnerships.

Effects in Canada will likely become more significant over time. Many Canadian researchers work closely with American colleagues on joint projects, some of which rely directly or indirectly on U.S. funding and infrastructure. If such support falters, Canadian labs might find themselves facing project delays, data loss, or the premature end of collaborative efforts. In 2017, nearly 35 percent of NIH-funded publications included international co-authors, with Canada ranking third among U.S. research collaborators – contributing to over 4,000 co-publications that year (Grubbs et al, 2019). Many of these partnerships rely on symbiotic sharing of data, materials, and facilities. Should the U.S. reduce its scientific footprint or curtail open collaboration, the resulting gaps will be felt here as well. Risks are elevated in fast-moving, high-cost fields such as genomics, AI, and climate science.

Canada’s own public research funding agencies may see a rise in grant applications if Canadian-based researchers find it harder to participate in projects that are funded by the US, in whole or in part. This possibility makes the federal government’s recent announcement of $1.3 billion investment for over 9,700 research projects especially timely. But more funding may be needed, at a time when the federal government is likely considering austerity measures, in part to increase defence investments. 

What is also on the horizon is a new wave of scientific migration out of the U.S. Historically, periods of political interference or funding instability in the U.S. have led to outward movement of researchers seeking stability (Tham et al., 2024). Canada is an attractive destination for this talent – if we are ready to act in concert and with determination.

Capitalizing on this “brain gain” opportunity would require targeted policy measures at both the federal and provincial levels. The federal government should streamline immigration pathways for scientists and their families. Universities and research institutions, with support from both levels of government, should offer relocation or bridging support for established US researchers. Scaling up existing programs designed to attract top talent, such as the Canada Excellence Research Chairs and the UHN Canada Leads 100 Challenge, would be efficient first steps.

The full impact of the U.S. approach will become clearer over time. The question for Canada is whether we will remain passive observers or take bold and strategic steps to fortify and expand our scientific and innovation capacities in priority areas that address the pressing needs of our citizens in a challenging world. So far, we have only taken a few tentative baby steps. 

It is ironic that the United States, long the global innovation powerhouse precisely because of its sustained investments in science and research, is now undermining that very foundation under the Trump administration. As U.S. leadership retreats from evidence-based policy and scientific advancement, Canada has a rare opportunity to step up: to attract displaced talent, deepen our own commitment to research and innovation, and cultivate the industries of the future.