All Government Shutdowns Disrupt Science
The Impact of Funding Lapses
Science always suffers during government shutdowns. Funding interruptions force government scientists to stay home without pay. Federal agencies halt new grant opportunities, pause expert review panels, and stop gathering and analyzing vital public data on the economy, environment, and public health.
2025 Shutdown: Greater Stakes
In 2025, the consequences of the shutdown extend beyond financing interruptions. This shutdown occurs amid significant turmoil in American science and innovation, driven by President Donald Trump’s efforts to expand executive power and tighten political control over scientific institutions.
Changing the Social Contract in Research
With the shutdown entering its fifth week and no resolution in sight, rapid policy changes by the Trump administration are reshaping the relationship between the U.S. government and research universities. Traditionally, the government provides funding and autonomy to universities, expecting public benefits in return.
"The Trump administration is not just reforming the US research system – it is trying to remake it."
"With the shutdown entering its fifth week, and with no end in sight, the Trump administration’s rapid and contentious changes to federal research policy are rewriting the social contract between the U.S. government and research universities."
Author’s Perspective
As a physicist and policy scholar relying on federal grants, I study American science policy and the nation's R&D investments, and I am concerned about the ongoing challenges facing U.S. science funding.
Summary
The 2025 government shutdown deepens the disruption to U.S. science by combining funding losses with significant political shifts over federal research policy and institutional autonomy.