In just a matter of months, sweeping changes in government policy have dramatically reshaped the landscape of science and research in our country. While new policy directions are expected with a new presidency, they are apt to be sharper when one party controls both Congress and the Oval Office. Typically, this can include expected replacement of personnel and redefining budget and legislative goals in line with party priorities. This year, as Donald Trump has returned to the White House, a litany of unpredictable policy shifts has shocked the political world, the nation and most importantly, the scientific community.
Government decisions regarding science policy seldom grab the attention of most Americans. These decisions can seem abstract, technical and seemingly disconnected from our everyday lives. They are rarely front-page news and especially far from the minds of young people. But these are different times, and the effect of current pressures on science policy will impact our lives more than many expect. Beyond the need for bipartisan support for stable science policy, the seemingly relentless attacks on scientific research make it clear why high schoolers too should be paying close attention.
Recently, nearly 2,000 top researchers – elected members of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine – penned an open letter calling for a stop to the “assault” on science and warning that the administration’s recent policy shifts, including as to research funding and DEI programs, have created a “climate of fear” within America’s research community. These scientists argue that such policies will profoundly disrupt independent scientific inquiry, and the research interruptions and funding cuts risk damage to our scientific enterprise that could take decades to repair.
These developments directly affect educational and career opportunities available to high school students. To begin, recent changes have created an immediate chilling effect on student access to STEM programs and hands-on experiences pivotal for exploring STEM fields and careers. Cuts in federal research funding threaten the availability of enrichment opportunities, including summer internships at major institutions such as NASA, NIH and universities.
As Sean Kim ‘26 explained, “These programs are often our first step beyond the classroom into real-world scientific experiences.”
Students may also feel this impact at the collegiate level. As universities lose research funding, we are likely to see reductions in undergrad research positions, summer programs and lab support jobs, meaning more limited opportunities to explore science once you get to college. College admissions could become even more competitive, since students from schools with fewer resources may now have even less access to enrichment programs that help them gain access to STEM education beyond the limits of their school and stand out. Even more, funding cuts may result in less financial aid offered by colleges or reductions in programs meant to support first-generation or low-income students. The effects would combine to make it harder to get into competitive colleges and to access support as an undergraduate.
The long-term effects of these policy shifts are just as troubling for our generation. When science funding is cut and programs are paused or canceled, the pace of medical advancement risks grinding to a halt. Interrupting important research in areas like cancer treatment, gene therapy and mental health could affect our friends, our families, our communities and our futures. There is also the risk of losing our next generation of scientists to more stable, well-funded labs in other countries, possibly creating a “brain drain” that leaves fewer mentors and fewer research paths open for students in the United States.
These recent developments also highlight the critical question of whether students can trust science to remain apolitical. In his May 2025 commencement speech at the University of San Francisco, Dr. Anthony Fauci warned that misinformation and political pressure represent some of the greatest threats to science. He urged students to think critically and defend honest research. In contrast, President Trump’s recent executive order, “Restoring Gold Standard Science,” promotes reproducibility and transparency but also risks giving leaders more political control over what constitutes science “in service of the public good.” Such control could threaten the ability of young people to understand the direction of science policy and trust that their future in STEM won’t be shaped by political boundaries.
Diego Pa-Ortiz ‘26 added, “Science should be about discovery and facts, not party lines. It’s disappointing to see these attempts to control it.”
Protecting science funding and researchers’ independence is not just important for the legions of scientists facing uncertainty today. It’s also important for the security of the opportunities – present and future – that help students like us learn, advance and discover. If our generation is expected to lead the efforts to solve future problems, we need to understand the significance of the current policy shifts and be ready to advocate for the right tools to keep science independent, truthful and accessible.
