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AMERICA’S GREAT BRAIN DRAIN  
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Robert Hunziker
May 10, 2025
Dissident Voice
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_ America’s shores are experiencing a huge sucking sound as one of
the biggest brain drains of modern history hits the country’s best,
smartest, heading for Europe on grants, as smiles abound across the
pond. _

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A few years ago, no one would have imagined that one of the biggest
democracies in the world would cancel research programs under the
pretext that the word ‘diversity’ was in this program.

— French President Emmanuel Macron, _Choose Europe for
Science_ _Event_/Paris, May 5, 2025

America’s shores are experiencing a huge sucking sound as one of the
biggest brain drains of modern history hits the country’s best,
smartest, heading for Europe on grants, as smiles abound across the
pond. European leaders are pinching themselves, unable to believe such
good fortune falling into their laps, thanks to the Trump
administration “freezing” government funding linked to
“diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.”

The EU has officially launched a drive to attract scientists and
researchers that America is discarding by the bucketful, see: 
“Europe Launches a Drive to Attract Scientists and Researchers After
Trump Freezes US Funding
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AP News, May 5, 2025.

This is an extraordinary shrinking of America’s IQ in so many ways
that a full understanding is nearly impossible, but it is only too
obvious that deliberate destruction of science is the product of a
bruised/intimidated mentality that’s seeking payback. There is no
other logical explanation.

The EU is licking its chops over this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
According to EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, while on
stage at Sorbonne University, the EU Executive Branch has already
decided to set up a “super grant” program, aimed at “longer-term
perspective to the very best in the field.”

Essentially, the EU is cherry-picking some of America’s best brain
power. To accomplish this phenomenal opportunity, the Commission is
authorizing additional funding of $566 million in 2025-2027, making
Europe “a magnet for researchers.” This funding is in addition to
the European Research Council’s budget of $18 billion for 2021-2027.
Moreover, the EU will “enshrine freedom of scientific research into
law” via a new enactment. Europe will not compromise on its
long-standing principles of academic freedom.

Above and beyond the EU, according to President Macron, France has
also beefed-up commitments to science and research to capitalize on
America’s ‘fired’ scientists. France has launched a platform for
reception of international researchers: _Choose France for Science_.
President Macron officially christened the platform: “Here in
France, research is a priority, innovation a culture, science a
limitless horizon. Men and women researchers from all over the world,
choose France, choose Europe.”

So far, the US has cut 380 grant projects and thousands of university
researchers have been notified that their National Science Foundation
funding is canceled, but they know where to turn. Backlash has
resulted as doctors, scientists, and researchers hit the streets in
“Stand Up for Science” rallies across the country. Astronomy
Professor Phil Platt, addressing a crowd, said: “We’re looking at
the most aggressively anti-science government the United States has
ever had.” UPenn climate scientists Michael Mann: “Science is
under siege.” Bill Nye the Science Guy hit the bull’s eye,
rhetorically challenging the forces of government: “What are you
afraid of?” which may become the rallying cry of opposition
throughout the land.

Professionals agree that science has been in the midst of enormous
achievements to make lives better than ever, but according to senior
staff members of the National Institutes of Health, funding cuts will
seriously damage or eliminate major progress on key, very significant,
programs for Alzheimer’s, diabetes, and cancer, as examples.
Unfortunately, this will negatively impact tens of millions of
Americans for years to come.

Since World War II, the US has been recognized as a world leader in
science and technology. Now, that enviable position is swirling around
the drain. According to several key federal workers who spoke at a
recent MIT Technology Review, America’s world leadership is
literally being dismantled before our eyes. These are research
programs that backstop American life. “The US took nearly a century
to craft its rich scientific ecosystem; if the unraveling that has
taken place over the past month continues, Americans will feel the
effects for decades to come.” (“The Foundations of America’s
Prosperity Are Being Dismantled
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Technology Review_, Feb. 21, 2025)

According to a recent article in _The Hill_, March 2, 2025: “The
administration has issued a multi-pronged, anti-science attack on the
health sciences. Possibly the most destructive is the recent slashing
of research funding for both NIH 
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the National Science Foundation
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Here’s what’s at stake: “In 2024, NIH provided more than $37
billion in funding
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creating more than 400,000 jobs and generating $92 billion in
economic activity
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This funding is used for laboratory research, research centers and,
most importantly, the education of trainees, the next generation of
scientists. Trainees greatly contribute to the research and
discoveries even while they are in training.”

If $37 billion in funding produces $92 billion “in economic
activity” and “supports 400.000 jobs,” what’s up with
destroying a greater than 2-for-1 return on investment? What’s
missing from this equation, or is it simply a matter of looney-tunes,
not knowing which way is up? Study after study after study, and more
studies, prove that governmental funding of science generates
returns _in-excess of what private enterprise achieves_. For example,
governmental science funding played the crucial leading role in
creation of the internet. What’s that worth?

It should be widely recognized and brought to the public’s attention
that so much is wrong, so much at stake with anti-science rhetoric,
recklessly cutting science budgets, elimination of entire programs,
and loud-mouthed threats, demoralizing the public about science.
It’s difficult to know how to respond, and of course, this is the
intention behind the rapidity of a well-orchestrated blind-siding all
parties, unable to collect ones’ thoughts type of assault on major,
hugely productive governmental programs that protect life. This type
of assault is comparable to a Panzer Division Blitzkrieg. Nobody has
enough time to react.

What’s the impact of Blitzkriegs demolishing science? According to
an article in _Science_, May 2, 2025: “Trump’s Proposed Budget
Would Mean ‘Disastrous’ Cuts to Science
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For those interested, this article delineates agencies subject to
cuts. Meanwhile, the brain drain is in full throttle motion. Of
interest, an article in the prestigious science journal Nature, March
25, 2025: A poll found that 75% of 1,600 respondents, including 1,200
US scientists said: “Yes, they are looking for jobs in Europe and
Canada.” And there’s considerable anecdotal evidence that current
post-graduates are looking overseas.

And there’s this: “Trump Proposed Unprecedented Budget Cuts to US
Science,” _Nature_, May 2, 2025: “Huge reductions, if enacted,
could have ‘catastrophic’ effects on US competitiveness and
scientific pipeline… The message that this sends to young scientists
is that this country is not a place for you,’ says Michael Lubell, a
physicist who tracks science policy at the City University of New York
in New York City. ‘If I were starting my career, I would be out of
here in a heartbeat.”

The word is out. Scientists will find opportunities galore. Science
has never been more sought after in Europe and Canada and Australia,
which ranks 5th in the world for _trust in science_. After all, the
world is experiencing the most exciting era of scientific achievement
of all time, and the EU intends to take over leadership, stripping the
US of its 75-year crown. It’s been laid in their lap.

Moreover, according to the National Science Foundation, China has
already overtaken America in several key scientific metrics. Going
forward, the EU has America to thank for reinvigorating its science
and technology effort more so than ever before, as they challenge
China with much more enthusiasm for top billing. The U.S. lit their
fuse, making EU science and technology great again!

ROBERT HUNZIKER (MA, economic history, DePaul University) is a
freelance writer and environmental journalist whose articles have been
translated into foreign languages and appeared in over 50 journals,
magazines, and sites worldwide. He can be contacted
at: [email protected]. Read other articles by Robert
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* Science
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* scientists
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* brain drain
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* Donald Trump
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* European Union
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* Technology
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* budget cuts
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