Trump's war on science and the universities

Introducing the New Dark Age in the U.S.

On Friday, Trump signed an Executive Order that mandates government scientists to study “appropriate” science.

"The universities are the enemy." — J.D. Vance.

Vance’s remarks echo Richard Nixon’s infamous statement from 1972, where Nixon declared, "The professors are the enemy" in a conversation with Henry Kissinger. Vance has referenced Nixon’s words in multiple speeches, framing universities as institutions that undermine conservative values and promote progressive ideologies.

The New Dark Age

Historically, periods of scientific stagnation often followed efforts to control or restrict knowledge, whether through religious doctrine, authoritarian rule, or ideological purity tests.

On Friday, Trump signed an Executive Order that mandates government scientists to study “appropriate” science. He then ordered a sweeping overhaul of federal agencies’ handling of scientific research and a requirement to revisit all Biden-era regulations to ensure that they mesh with the new policy.

Once this EO is implemented, the global scientific community will no longer respect U.S. scientific research, and the great American brain drain will have begun.

Many foreign students, scientists, and researchers, threatened with expulsion, are returning home or going to other countries to resume their studies. The New York Times (May 14) has an opinion piece by three Yale professors, Marci Shore, Timothy Snyder, and Jason Stanley, all experts in authoritarianism, who explain why America is especially vulnerable to democratic backsliding — and why they are leaving the United States to take up positions at the University of Toronto.

Professor Stanley is leaving the United States as an act of protest against the Trump administration’s attacks on civil liberties. “I want Americans to realize that this is a democratic emergency,” he said.

"Gold Standard Science"?

First, let’s be clear on this: There is no such thing as “Gold-Standard Science.” Different fields—like physics, sociology, climatology, and engineering—each have their own best practices and methodologies. Science thrives on open inquiry, peer review, and the ability to challenge existing knowledge rather than rigid conformity to a single approach.

Trump’s executive order has shocked the global scientific community. The order mandates that federal agencies align their research with policies more in line with Trumpism. While the administration argues that this will rebuild public trust in science, critics fear it will politicize research and restrict scientific inquiry.

The order requires agencies to review all Biden-era regulations to ensure compliance with the new policy. It also reinstates policies from Trump's first term, which were designed to limit research on climate change and public health.

International scientists have expressed concerns that this directive could undermine the credibility of U.S. research. Some fear that American scientists may face restrictions on publishing findings that contradict government priorities. If global institutions begin rejecting U.S. studies, American science and innovation could suffer long-term consequences.

RFK JR.’s ‘Miasma’ theory

Trump’s Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., insists he’s not anti-vaccine and that he just wants to ensure that vaccines are safe. But defending his a priori conviction that vaccines are unsafe requires him to ignore the results of extensive, rigorous studies indicating otherwise and to rely on bad evidence and debunked claims that support his preferred position.

Kennedy, for example, simply doesn’t believe in the germ theory of disease established by Robert Koch and Louis Pasteur in the 1870s. Instead, he has referenced miasma theory, an outdated belief that diseases arise from "bad air" or environmental toxins rather than germs.

Like his boss, Trump, he routinely employs absolutist language, dismissing well-established facts in favor of preposterous and unsupported claims. The trouble is that now that Kennedy is the country's top health official, his warped ideas are contributing to the rise of a dystopian reality.

Resistance at Harvard

REPORTER: Are you considering stopping other universities besides Harvard from accepting foreign students?

TRUMP: Well, we're taking a look at a lot of things ... Harvard is gonna have to change its ways. So are some others.

Harvard has been a frequent target of the administration, facing fabricated accusations of fostering antisemitism, discrimination against whites, and liberal bias.

Trump has attempted to strip Harvard of its ability to enroll international students, waving the false flag of antisemitism (criticism of Israel) and citing ridiculous concerns over the university’s supposed ties to the Chinese Communist Party. These actions have been widely interpreted as retaliation against Harvard for resisting federal oversight of its curriculum and governance.

To its credit, Harvard has actively resisted efforts to restrict international student enrollment and cut federal research funding. The university has refused to comply with demands for government audits, changes in hiring practices, and academic program restrictions.

Harvard officials have also publicly condemned the administration’s actions, calling them an attack on academic freedom and warning that they could harm the university’s global reputation. Faculty members and student groups have staged protests, arguing that the administration’s policies are designed to intimidate universities into compliance.

American scientists may now face government-imposed limitations on their research topics and methodologies. The global scientific community has already signaled that it may reject U.S. research if it is perceived as politically compromised.

The consequences could be far-reaching, affecting scientific credibility, university autonomy, and international collaboration.

RESIST!