Trump policies sow chaos, confusion across scientific community

The first weeks of the Trump administration have been dizzying for scientists in government agencies and laboratories across the country.

One of Trump ’s first orders demanded an end to all government spending on diversity, equity and inclusion ( DEI ) Another said federal employees must use the word “sex” rather than “gender” and forbade federal spending on gender ideology” The uncertainty in the nation's laboratories is pervasive, with scientists unsure whether the work they do will remain funded.

The government spends about $200 billion a year on all forms of research and development.

But the government is still the biggest funder of “basic” research, whose results may have no application or may wind up creating something as revolutionary as GPS , smartphones or the internet.

Researchers who depend on federal dollars are in the same position as other federal workers rattled by policy changes.

“People are scared. They don’t know what’s coming,” says physicist Michael Lubell .

“We’re concerned about saying anything that would be instantly out of date.” National Academy of Sciences president says board of directors will meet next week to decide how to proceed.