States across the US losing scientists due to federal funding cuts under Trump

Scientists across the United States are leaving due to delayed federal grants and increased political influence over scientific funding under the Trump administration, according to reports from Boston.com and the Associated Press.

The Trump administration has altered the federal grant process and sought to influence which research projects receive funding, prompting foreign universities to recruit U.S. scientists by offering more stable funding and academic freedom, Boston.com reported.

More than half of American states have lost scientists to these recruitment efforts abroad, according to an April report from the Business for Federal Research Funding Coalition cited by Boston.com and the Associated Press.

Tobin Smith of the Association of American Universities described the shift as unprecedented and concerning, noting that many university research leaders have reported losing top faculty members, Boston.com reported.

The White House responded by stating that President Trump is focused on ending waste and maintaining American leadership in scientific innovation through funding what it calls 'real science,' Boston.com noted.