Trump-Era Cuts Fuel ‘Brain Drain’ as Nations Recruit U.S. Scientists

26 May at 1:14 pm

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Trump-Era Cuts Fuel ‘Brain Drain’ as Nations Recruit U.S. Scientists/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Global institutions are aggressively recruiting American scientists after Trump administration funding cuts. France, Canada, Australia, and the EU launched programs offering jobs, security, and academic freedom. The loss of funding threatens U.S. scientific leadership and international collaboration.

FILE – French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen attend the “Choose Europe for Science” event at the Sorbonne University in Paris on Monday, May 5, 2025. (Gonzalo Fuentes/Pool via AP, File)

Modern and traditional architecture is seen at the Max Planck Institute for Coal Research in Muelheim, Germany, Friday, May 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Global Science Recruitment Surges as U.S. Cuts Spark Exodus Quick Looks

Trump’s Budget Axe: Massive cuts target NIH, NSF, NASA, and university research programs.
International Opportunity: France, Canada, and Australia launch scientist recruitment programs.
“Safe Haven” Messaging: Programs promise academic freedom and research stability.
Spike in Applications: Foreign universities report surging U.S. interest, especially in early-career roles.
Personal Impact: U.S.-based scientists face canceled grants, layoffs, and stalled careers.
Global Consequences: Researchers warn that science as a collaborative global enterprise is at risk.

In this photo provided by the University Health Network, Ontario Premier Doug Ford, center, stands with other government and UHN officials in custom hockey jerseys during the announcement of the “Canada Leads” program in Toronto on Monday, April 7, 2025. (Jacob Cote/UHN via AP)

Deep Look: As U.S. Slashes Science Funding, World Offers Haven for Displaced Researchers

May 25, 2025

When the Trump administration slashed billions from the budgets of America’s leading scientific institutions, researchers in labs across the United States suddenly found themselves without grants, jobs, or clarity on their futures.

Now, institutions abroad — from France to Australia — are launching high-profile recruitment campaigns to lure American talent. The message: if the U.S. no longer supports you, we will.

From Harvard Labs to “Safe Places for Science”

One of the most visible efforts is France’s “Safe Place for Science” initiative, introduced by Aix-Marseille University in March. It promises U.S.-based researchers a stable, freedom-focused environment.

“Our American colleagues aren’t chasing money,” said university president Eric Berton. “They want to keep working freely, without fear.”

In April, Canada responded with “Canada Leads,” a program to attract early-career biomedical scientists. Australia unveiled its “Global Talent Attraction Program,” offering top salaries and relocation packages.

Even the European Commission joined in, pledging to protect scientific freedom in its “Choose Europe for Science” campaign.

“There’s an unparalleled opportunity to attract some of the smartest minds here,” said Anna-Maria Arabia, head of the Australian Academy of Sciences.

The U.S. Brain Drain?

Though the U.S. still leads global R&D spending — accounting for 29% of worldwide funding in 2023, according to the AAAS — the new cuts are substantial. The administration proposes reducing NIH’s budget by 40% and the NSF’s by 55%.

White House spokesperson Kush Desai defended the approach, saying it eliminates “waste” and realigns research with “American people’s priorities.”

But institutions have already begun to feel the effects. Hiring freezes, lab closures, and lost grants are halting projects. Notably, Harvard lost its authorization to enroll international students, further eroding research momentum.

Meanwhile, foreign institutions are pouncing. Half of the applicants to France’s program were American. The Max Planck Society in Germany reported a tripling in U.S. applications to its women-in-science initiative.

“There are threats to science south of the border,” said Brad Wouters of Canada’s University Health Network.

Lives in Limbo

Researchers like Brandon Coventry, a neural implant postdoc at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, are reluctantly exploring jobs overseas.

“I’ve never wanted to leave the U.S.,” he said, “but I’m applying to Canada and France. It feels like my work may not be valued here anymore.”

Others, like Marianna Zhang, saw their research abruptly halted. Her NSF-funded study on childhood bias at NYU was canceled. She’s weighing international options — with caution.

“It’s no easy solution, just fleeing,” she said. “It’s uprooting your life.”

Science Without Borders?

Recruiters say this moment is unique not only for its urgency but for the values-based messaging. Institutions aren’t just offering jobs — they’re offering stability, respect, and academic freedom.

“Science is a global endeavor,” said Patrick Cramer, head of Germany’s Max Planck Society. “Losing U.S. partnerships hurts everyone.”

From sharing datasets to co-developing vaccines, modern science depends on international collaboration. As that fabric frays, global institutions are as alarmed as they are opportunistic.

“The U.S. was once a beacon,” said Patrick Schultz, head of France’s Institute of Genetics. “What’s happening now is deeply unsettling — for everyone.”