U.S. President Donald Trump is waging an “unprecedented and illegal” attack on science and scientists, leading to “preventable suffering” and “needless loss of life,” according to a report by Sen. Bernie Sanders. The report, compiled by the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, asserts that Trump’s actions constitute a “war on science” that will result in fewer medical breakthroughs and diminished public health responses.
Key findings include the termination of at least $13.5 billion in health funding and the dismissal of thousands of federal health workers. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) committed $2.7 billion less to research in early 2025 compared to the previous year, reflecting a 35% cut. Cancer research funding saw a 31% decline during the same period.
The report also highlights Trump’s administration imposing control over scientific discourse, requiring political appointees to review media requests and triggering heightened scrutiny for certain topics before publication or grant consideration. Over 100 scientific meetings have been delayed or canceled due to these changes.
Additionally, around 20,000 employees were terminated or left under pressure at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), leading to “chaos” within the agency, particularly at NIH. This disruption threatens to empower private sector interests over public health, raising concerns about the quality of service provided to Americans.
Sanders concluded that Trump’s anti-science stance is worsening health outcomes for Americans and people around the world.
