Open Science: An Antidote to Anti-Science

In the past few months, scientists across the globe who rely on publicly available US datasets and interactive tools for their research have encountered the unsettling message: Oops! This page cannot be found. The inaccessibility of datasets accompanies proposed budget cuts at the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation. Meanwhile, initiatives tied to diversity, equity, and inclusion are being dismantled, vital datasets, especially health-related information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, are being changed or erased, and the collection of crucial healthcare data is being deprioritized.

Simply put, the US research enterprise is headed for irrevocable damage. Policies that undermine scientific infrastructure and talent represent a grave threat to US leadership in global science, innovation, and importantly, people’s trust in scientific research. These actions will also drive researchers to seek opportunities abroad, further diminishing the nation’s standing in the global scientific community. Indeed, the European Commission has recently launched the ‘Choose Europe for Science Program’ for 2025–2027, with more than $500 million in funding to attract scientists, primarily from the US, who are impacted by federal funding cuts.