One Year Into Trump’s Term, Where Does Science Funding Stand? - Science Friday Recap

Podcast: Science Friday

Published: 2026-01-13

Duration: 18 minutes

Guests: Sudip Parikh

Summary

The episode reviews the status of U.S. science funding a year into Trump's term, highlighting both challenges and hopeful signs of bipartisan support for critical agencies like the NSF and NASA.

What Happened

In 2025, there were significant disruptions in U.S. science funding, with some grants terminated or delayed, causing concerns about the country's scientific leadership. Sudip Parikh, CEO of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, discusses how the situation has evolved over the past year. Despite initial worries, the latest funding for fiscal year 2026 seems promising, with bipartisan support in Congress leading to small increases in funding for several key agencies.

The National Science Foundation and NASA are experiencing relatively stable funding, with minor decreases in specific areas like education. Other agencies, such as the Agricultural Research Service and the Department of Energy Office of Science, are seeing modest increases. This change is attributed to advocacy efforts and the role of patient advocates highlighting the importance of science funding.

Parikh notes the critical role of patient advocates in securing funding for the National Institutes of Health. He cites a gene therapy success story as an example of how investment in science can lead to groundbreaking treatments. The conversation also touches on the broader implications of funding cuts, particularly on the uncertainty faced by young scientists and the potential loss of a generation of researchers.

While the U.S. remains competitive globally, there are areas where it is lagging, such as solar energy production, which is dominated by China. Parikh emphasizes the importance of continued investment to maintain leadership in innovation and national security.

The episode also explores the cultural challenges associated with science funding, where certain projects might be ridiculed, despite their potential to lead to significant advancements. Parikh stresses the importance of supporting basic science and discovery, drawing parallels to past innovations like AI.

Trust in science and the relationship between scientists and the public are also discussed. Parikh suggests that building relationships and greater engagement by scientists can help restore public trust in scientific institutions. He advocates for scientists to be more involved in public discourse to shape the narrative around scientific progress.

Parikh concludes with a hopeful outlook, acknowledging the challenges ahead but emphasizing the resilience of the scientific community. He calls for continued advocacy and vigilance to ensure the successful execution of funding and the support of young scientists.

Key Insights