All Government Shutdowns Disrupt Science
In 2025, the Consequences Extend Beyond Funding
The Trump administration is not simply reforming the U.S. research system—it is attempting to fundamentally reshape it. Science consistently suffers during government shutdowns. Funding interruptions force government scientists to stop working without pay. Federal agencies halt new grant competitions, pause expert review panels, and stop gathering and analyzing essential public data that inform us about the economy, environment, and public health.
In 2025, the impact of the shutdown is more severe than in previous ones. This particular shutdown occurs amid substantial turmoil in American science and innovation, driven by President Donald Trump’s ongoing efforts to expand executive authority and exert political control over scientific institutions.
Wider Implications for Science and Research
With the shutdown now in its fifth week and no resolution in sight, the Trump administration’s swift and controversial changes to federal research policies are rewriting the social contract between the U.S. government and research universities. Traditionally, the government provides funding and grants autonomy to these institutions in exchange for the expectation of public benefits resulting from their work.
“Science always suffers during government shutdowns. Funding lapses send government scientists home without pay. Federal agencies suspend new grant opportunities, place expert review panels on hold, and stop collecting and analyzing critical public datasets that tell us about the economy, the environment and public health.”
Perspective of a Scientist and Scholar
As a physicist and policy scholar, I both study and depend on the status of U.S. science funding as a federal grant recipient. My research focuses on the history and governance of American science policy, including national investments in research and development.
Author’s summary: The 2025 government shutdown intensifies challenges for U.S. science, as political moves redefine federal research roles and disrupt vital funding and data collection.
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