The download: US science leadership dismantled, and reproductive health cuts
The foundations of America’s prosperity are being dismantled
Ever since World War II, the US has been the global leader in science and technology–and benefited immensely from it. Research is the fuel that drives American innovation, and in turn, the economy. Scientists from around the globe want to study and work with American scientists in order to increase the amount of research. These international collaborations are crucial to American diplomacy and soft power. The products Americans can buy, the drugs they have access to, the diseases they’re at risk of catching–are all directly related to the strength of American research and its connections to the world’s scientists.
That scientific leadership is now being dismantled, according to more than 10 federal workers who spoke to MIT Technology Review, as the Trump administration slashes personnel, programs, and agencies. This could have long-lasting and irreparable effects on everything from health care quality to public access to new technologies. Read the complete story. Read the full story. On January 20, Trump’s first day as president, he ordered a halt to US foreign aid for 90 days so that the programs could be evaluated. A “stop work memo” issued by the State Department on January 24 brought US-funded programs in the world to an immediate halt. According to recent estimates, more than 8,000 pregnant women and mothers will die in the next 90-days due to complications during pregnancy or childbirth if funding isn’t reinstated. To find out what has happened, read our article.
