American Scientists Massively Plan Emigration Due to Trump’s Policy
According to a survey conducted by Nature magazine, a significant portion of American scientists are considering relocating from the USA due to Donald Trump administration’s policies.
The survey, which included about 1,650 respondents, revealed that over 1,200 scientists are seriously considering moving to Canada or EU countries. This is especially true for graduate students who are just beginning their scientific careers.
Of the 690 graduate students surveyed, 548 stated they are considering relocation due to Trump administration’s actions. The government’s policy has led to research funding cuts and the suspension of many government-funded scientific projects.
Initiatives by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), headed by Elon Musk, have led to the dismissal of tens of thousands of federal employees, including many scientists. Although some were reinstated by court decision, they face new threats of dismissal.
The Trump administration’s fight against immigrants and academic circles has raised concerns among American scientists about uncertainty and obstacles in their scientific work. The survey showed that many scientists plan to move to countries where they have familiar colleagues, friends, or relatives.
Some scientists who came to the US for work are planning to return to their home countries. Many of them had no such plans before the Trump administration began cutting research funding and laying off scientists.
One graduate student working in plant genomics and agriculture lost government support and scholarship after the Trump administration terminated USAID funding. She is considering pursuing a doctoral scholarship abroad and is actively looking for new employment in Europe, Australia, and Mexico.
Another scientist involved in medical research is trying to find work in Canada after his National Institutes of Health grant was canceled. He notes that scientific institutions in other countries are actively taking advantage of the situation in the US.
Some scientists, despite the difficulties, plan to stay in the US as they believe it has the best infrastructure for scientific research. However, a significant portion of respondents confirmed they plan to leave the country due to problems they foresee in the future.
