SciOPS Survey on the Impact of U.S. Science Policy

In our latest SciOPS survey, we asked academic scientists about how changes in the U.S. political environment since January 2025 have affected their research, work environment, and careers. 

Based on a nationally representative survey, several patterns emerged across three areas:

• Research activities: 70% of scientists reported a decrease in their ability to recruit international students or postdocs, and 56% reported decreased research funding. 68% reported an increase in work-related stress, and 47% reported exploring retirement.
• Research environment: 81% reported that students or postdocs in their lab had heightened concerns about job prospects. Over half (55%) reported editing keywords in research proposals, and 63% reported warning team members about international travel risks.
• Science policy opinions: 85% of respondents characterized changes in U.S. science policy since January 2025 as "very negative." 84% reported that these changes have decreased public trust in science, and two-thirds or more reported "very" negative effects on U.S. scientific leadership (68%) and global competitiveness (66%).

These findings offer a systematic view of how recent federal policy changes are being experienced across the academic scientific community, from day-to-day research operations to longer-term concerns about career stability and the broader science enterprise. Understanding these impacts is essential for evidence-based discussions about science policy and the conditions that support scientific work in the United States.

Read the full survey results here: https://sci-ops.org/survey/science-impact/