Inside the new Trump Administration\u2019s first budget proposal are deep cuts across the board for numerous Science Agencies. The plan also lays the foundation for a broad change in US research opportunities, especially in environmental and climate programs in the country.<\/p>\n
The proposed cuts would result in double-digit reductions in funding for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Institutes for Health (NIH). As one of the hardest-hit agencies, the EPA would face $2.6 billion in cuts, close to a third of its current budget, subsequently resulting in the potential lay-off of 3,200 of the agency\u2019s staff. Similarly, the NIH budget would be cut by $5.8 billion, a loss of 20% of the agency\u2019s funding. Other government groups like the Department of Energy and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) would lose experience similar cuts in funding as well.<\/p>\n
\u201cCutting [research and development] funding from our budget is the same as cutting the engines off an airplane that\u2019s too heavy for take-off,\u201d says Jason Rao, director of international affairs at the American Society for Microbiology in Washington, D.C. He believes that the greatest threats to the United States are those presented by infectious diseases, climate change, and energy production, all of which must be addressed with scientific research.<\/p>\n
NASA would see a relatively smaller cut \u2013 a proposed 0.8% reduction in its budget. However, its Earth Sciences projects would lose $200 million, and its Office of Education would be completely dropped. Under the new budget plan, NASA\u2019s planetary division would expect to gain the most, with its budget growing from $1.6 billion to $1.9 billion as the White House proposal looks to shift the research priorities of the agency towards \u201cdeep-space exploration rather than Earth-centric research.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, Casey Dreier, director of space policy for the Planetary Society, argues that Planetary Science\u2019s gain does not necessarily come at the expense of other divisions.<\/p>\n
\u201cOn a certain level you have limited resources and you have to make priorities,\u201d he says. \u201cSome divisions growing while others shrink is common among different administrations.\u201d Dreier, however, doesn\u2019t support a cut in NASA\u2019s total budget, noting that \u201cNASA is given tasks by the nation. We need to give NASA the resources that will allow them to be successful.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cRumors are counterproductive,\u201d says Waleed Abdalati, former chief scientist at NASA. He believes that researchers who are worried about the potential cuts to the Earth-science programs at research agencies \u201cshould advocate for what should happen\u2026rather than complain about what hasn\u2019t happened.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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