🔬OMB targets NIH with $18 billion cut while NSF loses half its budget

Basic research funding that produces breakthrough discoveries gets eliminated while China increases science investment by 400%. American universities lose the fundamental research capability that drives technological innovation, medical advances, and economic growth that supports high-paying jobs.

Doctoral programs in physics, chemistry, and engineering collapse when federal fellowships disappear, forcing America's brightest students to complete degrees in countries that value scientific advancement. Brain drain accelerates as foreign universities recruit American talent with superior research opportunities and financial support.

NIH cuts eliminate basic research into rare diseases, antibiotic resistance, and preventive medicine that doesn't generate immediate profits. Private companies won't fund research that might take decades to produce results, leaving Americans vulnerable to health threats that could be prevented with sustained scientific investment.

Engineering research that improves production efficiency, develops new materials, and solves industrial problems gets defunded while competitor nations invest heavily in technical advancement. American factories lose the technological edge that supports domestic manufacturing jobs and export competitiveness.