Fact Check: Trump's administration plans to slash science budgets by over 50%.

Fact Check: "Trump's administration plans to slash science budgets by over 50%"

What We Know

During Donald Trump's presidency, there were significant proposals for budget cuts to various federal science agencies. Reports indicated that the Trump administration sought to cut funding by more than 50% at the National Science Foundation (NSF) and 37% at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in its proposed budget for 2026 (source-2). Additionally, the administration's budget planning documents indicated intentions to reduce funding for agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) by 44% (source-6).

Despite these proposals, Congress largely rejected the drastic cuts, and in many instances, federal research funding actually increased during Trump's presidency (source-1). The Silencing Science Tracker documented 346 anti-science actions taken by the federal government during Trump's term, which included budget cuts among other actions (source-1).

Analysis

The claim that Trump's administration planned to slash science budgets by over 50% is partially true. While there were indeed proposals for significant cuts—specifically targeting agencies like the NSF and NIH—these proposals were not fully realized due to Congressional pushback. For instance, although the administration requested a 50% cut to the NSF, Congress ultimately increased funding for research during this period (source-1).

The reliability of the sources is generally high, as they include peer-reviewed articles and reports from reputable organizations. However, it is essential to note that proposed budgets do not always reflect actual funding outcomes, as seen in the case of Trump's administration where many proposed cuts were countered by Congressional actions (source-3).

Moreover, while the proposed cuts were alarming, they were part of a broader context of the administration's overall approach to science, which included attempts to undermine scientific integrity and suppress research (source-1). This context is crucial for understanding the implications of the proposed cuts and the administration's stance on science funding.

Conclusion

The claim that "Trump's administration plans to slash science budgets by over 50%" is partially true. While there were indeed proposals for significant cuts to science budgets, particularly at the NSF and NIH, these cuts were largely rejected by Congress, which increased funding instead. Thus, while the intent to cut was present, the actual implementation of these cuts did not materialize to the extent suggested by the claim.

Fact Check: Trump's administration plans to slash science budgets by over 50%.