How States Could Throw University Science a Lifeline
Preview:
Whatever halfway measures Congress or the courts may take to stop President Donald Trump’s assault on universities, they will not change the fact that a profound agreement has been broken: Since World War II, the U.S. government has funded basic research at universities, with the understanding that the discoveries and innovations that result would benefit the U.S. economy and military, as well as the health of the nation’s citizens. But under President Trump—who has already targeted more than $3 billion in research funding for termination and hopes to cut much more, while at the same time increasing the tax on endowments and threatening the ability of universities to enroll international students—the federal government has become an unreliable and brutally coercive partner.
Originally published: August 14, 2025
Author: L. Rafael Reif
Position: President Emeritus
Institution: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Published by: The Atlantic