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Growing up in Brazil, neuroscientist Danielle Beckman always yearned for a career in the United States, where unmatched research opportunities and substantial scientific investment seemed to offer the perfect environment for her work. When she landed a position at the California National Primate Research Center at UC Davis in 2017, it appeared her dreams had materialized. However, as the political landscape under President Donald Trump has shifted, so too have her aspirations.

Recently, Beckman announced her intent to relocate, exploring potential opportunities in Germany and France. Her research on the neurological impacts of viral infections like Covid-19 will soon continue outside the US. This situation underscores an alarming trend of academic and scientific talent exiting the country.

America's stringent policies on research funding and international students, coupled with the Trump administration's significant budgetary and policy shifts, are driving this exodus. The European Union has responded by pledging €500 million ($562 million) over the next three years to attract researchers, while France's initiative in Marseille seeks to provide a "Safe Place for Science." Similarly, Canada is investing 30 million Canadian dollars ($21.8 million) to lure 100 early-career scientists, and Norway's Research Council has set up a 100 million kroner ($9.8 million) fund aimed at new researchers. Singapore, not to be outdone, is rapidly recruiting top US researchers.

The Australian Academy of Science is also capitalizing on this moment, initiating programs to recruit disappointed US-based scientists and encourage Australians abroad to return. Anna-Maria Arabia, the academy's chief executive, pointed out that there is a "global hunger" for skilled science and technology professionals, stressing the importance of maintaining science free from ideological influence.

Despite the US's historic dominance in research and development, with government expenditure in the field increasing significantly from $58 billion in 1961 to nearly $160 billion in 2024 (inflation-adjusted), Trump's administration has introduced dramatic setbacks. With sweeping cuts at federal health and science agencies like the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and cancellations of nearly 700 NIH grants worth $1.8 billion, Trump's policies are triggering dire consequences for the scientific community.

These funding cuts extend to elite academic institutions; the National Science Foundation (NSF) has slashed $1.4 billion in grants, prompting lawsuits from 16 states. The conflict between Trump and Harvard University over the elimination of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs has resulted in frozen federal funding and halted international student enrollments. Alternative academic institutions, such as Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, have stepped in to welcome Harvard students caught in this legal turmoil.

This antagonistic climate towards research and academia marks a stark departure from past decades, where the US excelled in scientific innovation and produced over 400 Nobel Prize winners, with more than a third being immigrants. Now, the country's approach under Trump's leadership is precipitating what could be the largest brain drain in decades, fundamentally altering the landscape of global scientific research.

Faced with these changes, numerous scholars, including distinguished Yale professors Jason Stanley, Marci Shore, and Timothy Snyder, have already moved to institutions like the University of Toronto, citing threats to academic freedom. Beckman's own lab has suffered from significant funding losses, a testament to the broader challenges and shifting attitudes toward foreigners within the US.

As researchers and scientists seek more welcoming and supportive environments abroad, the long-term impact on America's status as a global leader in science and technology remains uncertain, laying bare the critical importance of fostering an environment where research can thrive uninhibited.