All government shutdowns disrupt science − in 2025, the consequences extend far beyond a lapse in funding

All Government Shutdowns Disrupt Science − in 2025, the Consequences Extend Far Beyond Funding

The Trump administration is undergoing more than a reform of the U.S. research system; it is reshaping it entirely. Government shutdowns have always taken a toll on science. When funding freezes, many federal scientists are furloughed without pay, and critical projects grind to a halt.

In 2025, the impact of the current shutdown is especially severe. It coincides with a period of significant transformation in U.S. science and innovation, driven by President Donald Trump’s continued expansion of executive authority and political influence over scientific institutions.

Now in its fifth week with no clear resolution, this shutdown underscores how sweeping changes to federal research policy are redefining the relationship between the federal government and research universities — a relationship traditionally built on funding and academic independence in exchange for public benefit.

As a physicist and policy scholar who studies the governance and history of U.S. science funding, I have both a professional and personal stake in this evolving system.

These developments mark a profound shift in how science and government interact, raising new questions about accountability, autonomy, and the future of publicly supported research in America.

Author’s Summary

In 2025, the prolonged U.S. government shutdown reveals deeper shifts in the nation’s science system, where funding crises blend with sweeping political control over research institutions.

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The Conversation The Conversation — 2025-11-04

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