Gold Standard Science
U.S. science has been in a state of upheaval since the start of Trump's second term. Can gold standard science prevail?
Marta Hill • September 17, 2025
[Image credit: Lauren Schneider] [Erlenmeyer flask image attribute: Nuno Nogueira | CC Attribution-ShareAlike 2.5 Generic] [Fume hood image attribute: Eileen K | CC BY-SA 2.0]
For the last nine months, science in the United States has been in a state of upheaval. Since President Donald Trump started his second term in January, grants have been cut, and then, in some instances, reinstated. Federal employees have been terminated, then brought back to work. Supporters have shown up for pro-science marches and organizing efforts. Long-maintained data sets have disappeared from federal websites.
These changes have translated to unease and turmoil in the scientific community, as researchers worry that their daily lives will be affected now — and in the long run, as staff and funding cuts may lead to a knowledge and information vacuum with lasting impacts.
Check out Scienceline‘s collection of stories chronicling some of the ripple effects of Trump’s attitude toward scientific research. This series is a project of the 43rd class of New York University‘s Science, Health, and Environmental Reporting Program.
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About the Author
Marta Hill
Marta is a science journalist originally from Minneapolis. She fell in love with science journalism because of its power to make complicated topics understandable and approachable. She covers a little bit of everything, but has a special soft spot for space stories. In her free time, Marta plays ultimate frisbee and is a board member for the non-profit Letters of Love.