The system that has driven life-altering discoveries and helped make the United States a superpower is now under intense strain. Published Oct. 31, 2026 Updated Nov. 7, 2026 The Defense Department's vaunted network of research laboratories, whose scientists helped develop satellite communication, radar technology, and even the computer mouse, was in trouble. The labs lost a significant share of their staff last year, largely in response to the Trump administration's efforts to thin the federal work force. Refilling critical positions was proving difficult due in part to President Trump's demand that new hires be screened for their loyalty to his goals. The Pentagon report pointed to "potentially grave consequences for the future of national defense."
The turmoil inside scientific research has extended beyond the Pentagon. The Energy Department, a key hub of nuclear and quantum research, has lost more than 1,000 scientists and technical staff. The National Science Foundation, a primary backer of long-term foundational research, has withheld more than $1 billion in funding. At the National Institutes of Health, the biggest funder of medical research, officials delayed or canceled more than 2,000 grants to biomedical researchers focused on topics such as Alzheimer's, cancer and other diseases. Under Mr. Trump, the federal government is still spending roughly as much on research -- about $200 billion this year -- as previous administrations. Scientists across the country are still receiving grants; universities are still being funded. But beneath the surface, the system of federally funded science that helped make the United States a global superpower is under intense strain from Trump policies, jeopardizing the nation's advantages in defense, medicine and technology. The White House regularly proclaims it is advancing American interests, yet its actions are eroding the country's scientific edge as global rivals challenge U.S. dominance. The damage is the byproduct of three pillars of Mr. Trump's broader agenda: sweeping job cuts and grant cancellations by the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency; continued pressure on research universities through funding cuts; and the budget director Russell T. Vought's campaign to impose political control over government spending. Michael Kratsios, Elon Musk and Russell T. Vought have played key roles in shaping the administration's approach to science. Photographs by Eric Lee, Haiyun Jiang and Kenny Holston
Aspiring scientists have seen their career paths thwarted, with fewer available spots for Ph.D. students. The number of Ph.D. applications from foreign students, typically a significant share of U.S. science programs, shrank by 21 percent this year at leading universities. Total Ph.D. admissions at these institutions fell by 8 percent, the lowest level in over a decade.
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