Uncertainty looms large over U.S. science agencies as the government announces shutdown
The U.S. government announced a partial shutdown for an indefinite period of time after failed negotiations on December 21 between lawmakers and the White House, which has the science community in the country concerned.
At the center of the shutdown is the dispute between the Congress and President Donald Trump over the spending bill for federal agencies. Trump’s demand for $5 billion to build a wall between the U.S. and Mexico border, which he had promised during his election campaign, could not meet with the lawmakers’ approval, leading to the shutdown.
As a result of the shutdown, the activities of several U.S. science agencies are facing disruption. The agencies might enforce furloughs on their staff, which effectively means research projects face the threat of coming to a complete standstill. This could put in jeopardy the future of both the agencies and the researchers. Some of the major agencies that are affected include The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the National Science Foundation (NSF).
“Any shutdown of the federal government can disrupt or delay research projects, lead to uncertainty over new research, and reduce researcher access to agency data and infrastructure,” said Rush Holt, chief executive officer, American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). Another concern researchers have expressed is the impact of the shutdown on the competitive edge in research and development the U.S. has.
Some agencies, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have escaped the impact of shutdown since their funding is secured through previously signed spending bills. Their activities will, therefore, continue without any disturbance.
As yet it is unclear how long the shutdown will last. In January, a key switch is in order in the House of Representatives since the Democrats will hold the majority. While some are of the opinion that this is likely to complicate the situation further since Trump might face greater resistance in budget negotiations, others in the science community are optimistic about the outcome of this shift.
Related reading:
- What does Donald Trump's victory mean for science?
- Donald Trump's immigration ban deepens science community's anxiety
- Trump's first budget proposal spells disaster for U.S. science agencies
- How will Trump's decision to exit the Iran nuclear deal affect science?
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Published on: Dec 27, 2018
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