Trump’s scientific policies present a long -term risk, economists warn

President Trump’s prices could increase prices. Its efforts to reduce the federal workforce could increase unemployment. But ask economists who of administration policies that concern them most and that many indicate the reductions in federal support for scientific research.

The Trump administration in recent weeks has canceled or frozen billions of dollars in federal subsidies granted to researchers through the National Institutes of Health, and has decided to greatly reduce funding for academic medical centers and other institutions. Through the initiative called the Ministry of Effectiveness of the Government, also tried to dismiss hundreds of workers from the National Science Foundation, an independent federal agency. And he revoked the visas of hundreds of students born abroad.

For economists, politicians threaten to undermine American competitiveness in emerging fields such as artificial intelligence and to leave the Americans as a poorer, less healthy and less productive whole in the decades to come.

“Universities are extremely important engines of innovation,” said Sabrina Howll, a professor at New York University who studied the role of federal government in the support of innovation. “It’s really killing the goose lays the golden egg.”

Scientists have warned that the United States is at risk of losing its leader in advanced research and its reputation as a magnet for the best scientific spirits around the world.

Already, the laboratories across the country have started to dismiss workers and to cancel projects – in some cases, the cessation of clinical trials which were already underway – and the major universities, including Harvard and the University of Pennsylvania, have announced hiring clearings. France and other countries have started to recruit American scientists, promising a more welcoming environment.