The actions of the new U.S. president are also affecting scientists. For instance, Trump decided at the end of last month to significantly cut funding for the NIH, the primary source of medical research funding in the U.S. A judge intervened to block this decision.

Censorship

The European Academies of Sciences are watching these developments with concern. They are worried about the "increasing threats to academic freedom," as stated in a joint declaration.

By freezing funding for research into climate change and gender studies, the Trump administration is limiting the freedom of scientists to determine their own research questions, according to ALLEA, the European federation of academies (which includes the Dutch KNAW).

Politics should not interfere with the "language, subject choice, and methodology" of scientists. ALLEA describes Trump’s interventions as a form of "censorship" and "political suppression."

Better Protection

The consequences of some of Trump’s decisions are only now starting to become clear. For example, the president’s dismissal of some democratic watchdogs at the U.S. privacy agency, PCLOB, in January could have significant repercussions for cooperation between European and U.S. researchers.

Privacy activist Max Schrems warns that this privacy watchdog was established at the request of the European Commission to facilitate the sharing of data between Europeans and the U.S. ALLEA fears that data exchanges are now at risk.

European governments should do a better job of protecting academic freedom, according to the umbrella organization of academies. This also applies to the Netherlands, as international law and sustainability professor André Nollkaemper recently stated, though universities must also remain vigilant themselves.