U.S. Researchers Pen Urgent Admonition to Citizens: "Peril Lies Ahead for Our Nation"
Beginning January 20, a contentious battle between the Trump administration and scientific institutions has escalated. This confrontation includes frequent attacks on scientific knowledge, methodologies, and institutions, with tech mogul Elon Musk and administration members leading the charge. A coalition of over 1,900 researchers and experts, primarily hailing from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, have jointly penned an open letter to the American public to rally support and expose the threats posed by these ongoing assaults.
In the letter, the signatories cite the danger they perceive in the current political climate. Regardless of their individual political beliefs, they collectively stress the importance of protecting independent scientific inquiry in the face of a sustained and harmful onslaught. The open letter serves as a clarion call to both the public and the government, warning of the erosion of the nation's scientific enterprise.
The Trump government has been accused of targeting academic institutions, with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement reportedly detaining students on the streets, including Rumeysa Ozturk and Mahmoud Khalil. These incidents have been deemed a violation of the First Amendment rights. Furthermore, the administration has launched investigations into more than 50 universities, sending a chilling message that destabilizes higher education. For instance, Columbia University was informed it risked losing federal funding if it did not adopt strict disciplinary policies and dismantle an academic department under scrutiny.
The Trump administration's approach to scientific institutions has been marred by various questionable executive orders (EOs). Critics argue that these orders infringe on the Constitution, are illegal, and carry segregationist undertones. The EOs have encompassed diverse topics, ranging from limiting the rights of trans and non-binary people to withdrawing the U.S. from international agreements like the Paris Agreement and World Health Organization.
Notably, the administration's actions have resulted in significant cuts to essential services in several institutions, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). As a result, meteorologists, computer engineers, and other key personnel in the Hurricane Research Division, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, and the Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory have been dismissed.
Other controversial decisions include U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr, canceling preparatory meetings for the winter flu vaccine and attempting to validate debunked links between vaccines and autism.
The letter concludes by urging the administration to halt these attacks on U.S. science and encourages the public to join this call to action. The signatories emphasize the need to protect scientific institutions, uphold scientific integrity, and ensure that research unfolds unhindered. They remind citizens that the prosperity and future of the nation rely on the free flow of scientific knowledge.
You can read the complete open letter online.
- Researchers and experts, primarily from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, have expressed deep concern about the political climate, stressing the importance of independent scientific inquiry.
- The Trump government has been accused of targeting academic institutions, with reports of students being detained and universities facing investigations, potentially violating First Amendment rights and destabilizing higher education.
- Questionable executive orders have been enacted by the administration, infringing on the Constitution, being labeled illegal, and containing segregationist undertones, affecting a wide range of topics from civil rights to international agreements.
- Essential services in several institutions, such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), have suffered significant cuts, leading to the dismissal of key personnel in crucial divisions like the Hurricane Research Division and the Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory.
- Controversial decisions by the administration include the cancellation of preparatory meetings for the winter flu vaccine and attempts to validate debunked links between vaccines and autism.
- The open letter urges the administration to halt these attacks on U.S. science, emphasizing the need to protect scientific institutions, uphold scientific integrity, and ensure that research progresses unimpeded.
- The signatories remind citizens that the prosperity and future of the nation depend on the unfettered exchange of scientific knowledge, and encourage public support in this endeavor of education and self-development for overall health, wellness, and personal growth.
