In just six weeks, the Trump administration has enacted drastic measures severely impacting American scientific research. These actions, comparable in their intensity to the administration’s approach to international relations, have affected critical areas such as Earth science, medical research, weather forecasting, and space exploration.
The administration’s restrictive policies have led to significant setbacks in higher education and scientific advancements. Research grants are either being revoked, paused, or subjected to politically motivated scrutiny. Universities have been forced to scale back graduate student admissions, limit medical student intake, and impose hiring freezes. Some institutions have even had to rescind admissions offers, leaving students and researchers in limbo.
One of the most concerning developments is the financial strain placed on Fulbright scholars, both American and foreign. Over 12,500 U.S. researchers abroad and 7,400 international scholars in the U.S. have seen their funding frozen, leaving them without financial support. Additionally, foreign academics have faced travel restrictions, detentions, and even outright denials of entry into the country.
The administration has gone a step further by specifically targeting certain universities. Columbia University and Johns Hopkins University have faced severe funding cuts of $400 million and $800 million, respectively, forcing the latter to lay off 2,000 employees. Furthermore, legal actions like the controversial arrest of Mahmoud Khalil and the cancellation of his green card have sent a clear message: academic independence is under threat. As Christina Pagel, a professor at University College London, aptly noted, “This isn’t chaos.” Rather, the administration’s approach appears to be a calculated effort to realign scientific research with state ideology, suppress dissent, and maintain economic and geopolitical control.
Historically, the U.S. has benefited from the migration of scientific talent, as seen in Operation Paperclip, which brought former Nazi scientists—such as Wernher von Braun—to America, contributing to NASA’s success. Now, the tables may be turning. As early as Trump’s election, some speculated that Europe might benefit from an influx of American scientific talent. Unlike past waves of migration fraught with moral complexities, this time, the opportunity is clear-cut. The European Union, along with allies like Canada, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand, may step up to uphold the values of a liberal and democratic scientific community.
Recognizing the shift, European institutions have already started acting. For instance, France’s Aix-Marseille University recently launched Safe Place for Science, a three-year, €15 million program aimed at attracting 15 American scientists specializing in climate science, health research, and astrophysics. Within 24 hours of its announcement, the program received 30 applications. The university is now coordinating with the French government and other European institutions to expand the initiative, signaling a broader movement toward “scientific asylum.”
Financially, the U.S. still leads in research and development (R&D), with federal spending reaching approximately $195 billion in 2024. However, when compared with the EU’s economic scale, closely matching that of the U.S., there is potential for Europe to allocate substantial funding to attract displaced American scientists. If the EU were to commit even €25 billion annually, it could reshape global scientific leadership. A report commissioned by the European Commission has already suggested doubling the current Horizon Europe research budget of €95 billion over seven years. Investing in research has historically proven beneficial, with postwar U.S. studies showing a 200% return on non-defense R&D investments.
Pushing the idea further, the EU could not only recruit American researchers but also entice entire academic institutions to establish secondary campuses in Europe. Currently, U.S. universities operate 29 full-fledged campuses across Europe, in addition to numerous smaller study centers. With mounting pressures on academic freedom and funding in the U.S., more universities may find a European presence increasingly appealing.
If restrictions on institutions like Columbia persist, American universities may begin considering Europe as a safeguard against domestic instability.
