Trump brain drain sparks global science boom as top researchers

Trump brain drain

America Once Led Science—Now It’s Pushing Talent Out

Trump brain drain: Danielle Beckman left Brazil in 2017 for a dream job at UC Davis—but now considers returning as U.S. support for science fades. A neuroscientist focused on how viruses like Covid-19 affect the brain, she saw the U.S. as the heart of scientific research.

Now, under President Trump’s second term, that dream is dying.

Massive research cuts and growing hostility toward international scholars have forced her to plan a move to Europe.

Beckman is one of many scientists preparing to leave the U.S. as universities face budget slashes, DEI crackdowns, and ideological pressure.

Billions Slashed, Dreams Dashed

Federal agencies have pulled the plug on key funding:

  • The NIH canceled $1.8 billion in grants since February 2025.
  • The NSF slashed another $1.4 billion.
  • The Trump administration proposes a 40% NIH budget cut for 2026.

Sixteen states have sued over these decisions, arguing national security and public health are at risk.

Private institutions like Harvard have also become targets. After the school resisted anti-DEI policies, its federal funding was frozen, and its ability to enroll international students was temporarily banned.

The World Is Watching—and Hiring

As U.S. support for science crumbles, other countries are stepping up.

  • The EU pledged €500 million to lure scientists.
  • France launched a “Safe Place for Science” program.
  • Canada is investing CA$30 million to recruit talent.
  • Singapore, Australia, and Norway have new programs to attract researchers.

These nations are making quick offers and removing visa barriers to snap up U.S.-based talent.

“It’s vitally important that science can continue without ideological interference,” said Anna-Maria Arabia of the Australian Academy of Science.

From Beacon to Barrier

The U.S. was once a haven for research. It has won over 400 Nobel Prizes, many from immigrant scientists.

But three-quarters of U.S. researchers now say they are considering leaving, according to a Nature survey in March.

Even Yale professors known for their work on fascism—Jason Stanley, Marci Shore, and Timothy Snyder—have left for the University of Toronto.

“It’s the first time I don’t feel welcome here,” Beckman told CNN. Her lab lost $2.5 million in grants this year.

Trump’s Vision for Education: Trade Schools, Not Scientists

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said this week that Trump prefers to fund trade schools over elite institutions.

“We need fewer LGBTQ graduate majors from Harvard and more electricians and plumbers,” she said on Fox News.

That shift may help vocational training, but it’s gutting the scientific pipeline.

Other Countries Catch Up

Global science is rising:

  • China’s R&D hit $780 billion in 2023.
  • The EU’s R&D rose to $504 billion, up from $336 billion in 2007.

As America retreats, global institutions are becoming the new hubs for discovery.

“There is interest in virology everywhere in the world except the U.S.,” Beckman said.

Source: CNN

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