{"id":408,"date":"2026-01-05T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-01-05T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/?p=408"},"modified":"2026-01-30T18:35:44","modified_gmt":"2026-01-30T23:35:44","slug":"the-trump-administration-takes-aim-at-science","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/05\/the-trump-administration-takes-aim-at-science\/","title":{"rendered":"Trump administration takes aim at science, public health"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Photo by Barbara Burgess via Unsplash \/ April 6, 2025<\/p>\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/10\/SC-assault-science-protest-2025_barbara-burgess-unsplash-1024x910.jpg\" src=\"http:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/10\/SC-assault-science-protest-2025_barbara-burgess-unsplash-1024x910.jpg\" alt class=\"wp-image-1280\" srcset=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/10\/SC-assault-science-protest-2025_barbara-burgess-unsplash-1024x910.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/10\/SC-assault-science-protest-2025_barbara-burgess-unsplash-300x267.jpg 300w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/10\/SC-assault-science-protest-2025_barbara-burgess-unsplash-768x683.jpg 768w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/10\/SC-assault-science-protest-2025_barbara-burgess-unsplash-1536x1366.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/10\/SC-assault-science-protest-2025_barbara-burgess-unsplash.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\">
Pho\u00adto by Bar\u00adbara Burgess via Unsplash \/ April 6, 2025\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

By Jen\u00adna Out\u00adcalt
UConn Jour\u00adnal\u00adism<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Unit\u00aded States has long been a leader in sci\u00aden\u00adtif\u00adic research and a col\u00adlab\u00ado\u00adra\u00adtor with oth\u00ader coun\u00adtries and state gov\u00adern\u00adments on pub\u00adlic health and oth\u00ader sci\u00aden\u00adtif\u00adic endeav\u00adors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But after a year of mis\u00adlead\u00ading claims about vac\u00adcines, cli\u00admate change and oth\u00ader sci\u00aden\u00adtif\u00adic issues and cuts to research fund\u00ading, the future of research and reg\u00adu\u00adla\u00adtions on health and the envi\u00adron\u00adment has been thrown into tur\u00admoil. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tom Kat\u00adsouleas, the for\u00admer pres\u00adi\u00addent of the Uni\u00adver\u00adsi\u00adty of Con\u00adnecti\u00adcut, said the Trump administration\u2019s attacks on sci\u00adence are part of a drift toward author\u00adi\u00adtar\u00adi\u00adan\u00adism. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHis\u00adtor\u00adi\u00adcal\u00adly, author\u00adi\u00adtar\u00adi\u00adan gov\u00adern\u00adments have tried to sup\u00adpress sci\u00adence because they have been resources for truth-find\u00ading, and that is incon\u00adve\u00adnient for author\u00adi\u00adtar\u00adi\u00adan gov\u00adern\u00adments,\u201d said Kat\u00adsouleas. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For\u00admer UConn Pres\u00adi\u00addent Tom Kat\u00adsouleas speaks with UConn Jour\u00adnal\u00adism stu\u00addents about cuts to research fund\u00ading in Sep\u00adtem\u00adber 2025 in Herb\u00adst Hall. Pho\u00adto by Con\u00adnor Sharp.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In the first year of his sec\u00adond term, Pres\u00adi\u00addent Don\u00adald Trump\u2019s expan\u00adsive inter\u00adpre\u00adta\u00adtion of exec\u00adu\u00adtive pow\u00ader has impact\u00aded pub\u00adlic health pro\u00adgrams, envi\u00adron\u00adment and clean ener\u00adgy projects and sci\u00aden\u00adtif\u00adic research. His admin\u00adis\u00adtra\u00adtion has broad\u00adly imposed its ide\u00adol\u00ado\u00adgy and rescind\u00aded funds already approved by Con\u00adgress. The impact has been felt in Con\u00adnecti\u00adcut through can\u00adceled projects and threats to research through\u00adout the state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Envi\u00adron\u00admen\u00adtal Pro\u00adtec\u00adtion Agency can\u00adcelled over $92.7 mil\u00adlion in envi\u00adron\u00admen\u00adtal grants to Con\u00adnecti\u00adcut, accord\u00ading to a map of can\u00adcelled fund\u00ading<\/a> devel\u00adoped by the Nation\u00adal Resources Defense Coun\u00adcil. The Depart\u00adment of Ener\u00adgy also can\u00adcelled more than 300 ener\u00adgy grants across the coun\u00adtry, total\u00ading over $7.5 bil\u00adlion.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Con\u00adnecti\u00adcut Attor\u00adney Gen\u00ader\u00adal William Tong has joined over 30 law\u00adsuits against the Trump admin\u00adis\u00adtra\u00adtion, with almost a dozen of them fight\u00ading bat\u00adtles relat\u00aded to the envi\u00adron\u00adment and health. He said the Trump administration\u2019s strat\u00ade\u00adgy was to aggres\u00adsive\u00adly reduce over\u00adsight on health and the envi\u00adron\u00adment and \u201cdec\u00adi\u00admate the Envi\u00adron\u00admen\u00adtal Pro\u00adtec\u00adtion Agency and our reg\u00adu\u00adla\u00adto\u00adry sys\u00adtem, the infra\u00adstruc\u00adture for ensur\u00ading clean air and clean water\u201d at a moment where \u201cour cli\u00admate is chang\u00ading rapid\u00adly in an adverse way.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLaws don\u2019t mean any\u00adthing unless you have peo\u00adple who are able to inves\u00adti\u00adgate and enforce them,\u201d Tong said. \u201cAnd so if you don\u2019t have an EPA, then nobody\u2019s mind\u00ading the store.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pub\u00adlic Health<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trump\u2019s 2024 elec\u00adtion plat\u00adform includ\u00aded a pledge to make Amer\u00adi\u00adca healthy again. Once elect\u00aded, he appoint\u00aded promi\u00adnent vac\u00adcine skep\u00adtic Robert F. Kennedy Jr.as the sec\u00adre\u00adtary of Health and Human Ser\u00advices. In Feb\u00adru\u00adary, Trump signed an exec\u00adu\u00adtive order estab\u00adlish\u00ading the \u201cMake Amer\u00adi\u00adca Healthy Again\u201d Com\u00admis\u00adsion, tasked with \u201caddress\u00ading the root caus\u00ades of America\u2019s esca\u00adlat\u00ading health cri\u00adsis.\u201d The commission\u2019s web\u00adsite<\/a> shows a focus on sup\u00adport\u00ading bet\u00adter nutri\u00adtion and inves\u00adti\u00adgat\u00ading chron\u00adic dis\u00adeases.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Donald Trump signing an executive order in the Oval Office. Trump has signed 218 executive orders in the first year of his second term. Photo courtesy of the White House<\/p>\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/SOC-DEI-Trump-Signing-order-1024x682.jpg\" src=\"http:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/SOC-DEI-Trump-Signing-order-1024x682.jpg\" alt class=\"wp-image-565\" srcset=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/SOC-DEI-Trump-Signing-order-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/SOC-DEI-Trump-Signing-order-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/SOC-DEI-Trump-Signing-order-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/SOC-DEI-Trump-Signing-order-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/SOC-DEI-Trump-Signing-order.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\">
Pres\u00adi\u00addent Don\u00adald Trump sign\u00ading an exec\u00adu\u00adtive order in the Oval Office. Trump has signed 218 exec\u00adu\u00adtive orders in the first year of his sec\u00adond term. Pho\u00adto cour\u00adtesy of the White House.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

How\u00adev\u00ader, state health offi\u00adcials raised con\u00adcerns about the lack of pub\u00adlic health com\u00admu\u00adni\u00adca\u00adtion and reli\u00adable research from the Trump admin\u00adis\u00adtra\u00adtion, includ\u00ading about vac\u00adcines. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Sep\u00adtem\u00adber, Con\u00adnecti\u00adcut offi\u00adcial\u00adly joined sev\u00ader\u00adal states and New York City in cre\u00adat\u00ading the North\u00adeast Pub\u00adlic Health Col\u00adlab\u00ado\u00adra\u00adtive \u201cto ensure trust in pub\u00adlic health, respond to pub\u00adlic health threats, advance com\u00admu\u00adni\u00adty health and strength\u00aden con\u00adfi\u00addence in vac\u00adcines and sci\u00adence-based med\u00adi\u00adcine,\u201d a Con\u00adnecti\u00adcut press release<\/a> said.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Con\u00adnecti\u00adcut Gov. Ned Lam\u00adont also helped form the Gov\u00ader\u00adnors Pub\u00adlic Health Alliance, a \u201cnon\u00adpar\u00adti\u00adsan, non-prof\u00adit coali\u00adtion of gov\u00ader\u00adnors that works togeth\u00ader to pro\u00adtect pub\u00adlic health,\u201d with 14 oth\u00ader states and ter\u00adri\u00adto\u00adries accord\u00ading to its web\u00adsite<\/a>. He said in a press release<\/a> that \u201cstates are step\u00adping up, amid fed\u00ader\u00adal uncer\u00adtain\u00adty, to ensure our res\u00adi\u00addents have the infor\u00adma\u00adtion they need.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n

Dr. Man\u00adisha Juthani, com\u00admis\u00adsion\u00ader of the Con\u00adnecti\u00adcut Depart\u00adment of Pub\u00adlic Health, said that alliances like these have always exist\u00aded, but the goals of cur\u00adrent alliances are to \u201cfill a vac\u00adu\u00adum that we are start\u00ading to feel from the absence of cer\u00adtain resources,\u201d includ\u00ading experts and fed\u00ader\u00adal points of con\u00adtact as well as finan\u00adcial resources. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Juthani said the goals of these coali\u00adtions were not nec\u00ades\u00adsar\u00adi\u00adly in con\u00adflict with the Trump admin\u00adis\u00adtra\u00adtion but to fill these gaps. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf the fed\u00ader\u00adal gov\u00adern\u00adment is not going to be invest\u00ading in the same way in spaces that we\u2019ve tra\u00addi\u00adtion\u00adal\u00adly leaned on the fed\u00ader\u00adal gov\u00adern\u00adment to give us infor\u00adma\u00adtion and have eyes and ears on things that can pro\u00adtect the pub\u00adlic at large, then it\u2019s incum\u00adbent on the states to try to find ways to do that,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
Official Portrait via CT Dept. of Public Health<\/p>\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/SCI-SCIENCE-Dr.-Manisha-Juthani-Conn.-Sec-Health-683x1024.jpg\" src=\"http:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/SCI-SCIENCE-Dr.-Manisha-Juthani-Conn.-Sec-Health-683x1024.jpg\" alt class=\"wp-image-562\" srcset=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/SCI-SCIENCE-Dr.-Manisha-Juthani-Conn.-Sec-Health-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/SCI-SCIENCE-Dr.-Manisha-Juthani-Conn.-Sec-Health-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/SCI-SCIENCE-Dr.-Manisha-Juthani-Conn.-Sec-Health-768x1151.jpg 768w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/SCI-SCIENCE-Dr.-Manisha-Juthani-Conn.-Sec-Health-1025x1536.jpg 1025w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/SCI-SCIENCE-Dr.-Manisha-Juthani-Conn.-Sec-Health-1366x2048.jpg 1366w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/SCI-SCIENCE-Dr.-Manisha-Juthani-Conn.-Sec-Health.jpg 1668w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\">
Dr. Man\u00adisha Juthani, Con\u00adnecti\u00adcut Dept. of Pub\u00adlic Health com\u00admis\u00adsion\u00ader. Juthani says the state coali\u00adtions are meant to fill resource gaps. Offi\u00adcial Por\u00adtrait cour\u00adtesy of CT Dept. of Pub\u00adlic Health<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Robert Miller, the direc\u00adtor of the East\u00adern High\u00adlands Health Dis\u00adtrict, one of 20 health dis\u00adtricts in Con\u00adnecti\u00adcut, said he is not look\u00ading to the fed\u00ader\u00adal gov\u00adern\u00adment for fund\u00ading as much as he used to \u201cbecause of its uncer\u00adtain\u00adty and volatil\u00adi\u00adty.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cuts to grants for state and local health depart\u00adments have been felt across the state. Health dis\u00adtricts expe\u00adri\u00adenced reduc\u00adtions in staffing, can\u00adcel\u00adla\u00adtions of con\u00adtracts and hun\u00addreds of thou\u00adsands in finan\u00adcial loss\u00ades, accord\u00ading to reports sub\u00admit\u00adted through the state\u2019s fed\u00ader\u00adal impact report\u00ading sys\u00adtem. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The governor\u2019s office said in a March press release that the state had lost almost $119 mil\u00adlion from the administration\u2019s can\u00adcel\u00adla\u00adtion of the fed\u00ader\u00adal  Epi\u00addemi\u00adol\u00ado\u00adgy and Lab\u00ado\u00adra\u00adto\u00adry Capac\u00adi\u00adty grant, which the CDC said was cre\u00adat\u00aded to sup\u00adport \u201chealth infor\u00adma\u00adtion sys\u00adtems enhance\u00adments and cross-cut\u00adting solu\u00adtions for infec\u00adtious dis\u00adease out\u00adbreaks.\u201d  The state\u2019s oth\u00ader major grant loss\u00ades con\u00adcerned vac\u00adcine infor\u00adma\u00adtion cam\u00adpaigns and address\u00ading health dis\u00adpar\u00adi\u00adties, the press release said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The U.S. Depart\u00adment of Health and Human Ser\u00advices is respon\u00adsi\u00adble for vac\u00adcine rec\u00adom\u00admen\u00adda\u00adtions for the gen\u00ader\u00adal pub\u00adlic, which can often deter\u00admine which vac\u00adcines are cov\u00adered by insur\u00adance. Since Trump took office, the CDC has stopped rec\u00adom\u00admend\u00ading COVID vac\u00adcines for healthy chil\u00addren and preg\u00adnant women.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The CDC\u2019s vac\u00adcine rec\u00adom\u00admen\u00adda\u00adtion coun\u00adcil, made up of mem\u00adbers hand\u00adpicked by Kennedy after all the pre\u00advi\u00adous sit\u00adting mem\u00adbers were removed, is review\u00ading child\u00adhood vac\u00adcine sched\u00adul\u00ading. It vot\u00aded on Dec. 5 to roll back rec\u00adom\u00admen\u00adda\u00adtions for Hepati\u00adtis B vac\u00adci\u00adna\u00adtions. The vac\u00adcines will no longer be offi\u00adcial\u00adly rec\u00adom\u00admend\u00aded to new\u00adborns unless the birthing par\u00adent tests pos\u00adi\u00adtive for the virus, accord\u00ading to the CDC<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Con\u00adnecti\u00adcut Depart\u00adment of Pub\u00adlic Health did not realign its vac\u00adcine rec\u00adom\u00admen\u00adda\u00adtions with the fed\u00ader\u00adal government\u2019s, releas\u00ading rec\u00adom\u00admen\u00adda\u00adtions<\/a> on Sept. 9 that empha\u00adsized vac\u00adci\u00adna\u00adtion as the \u201cmost effec\u00adtive defense\u201d against severe out\u00adcomes from COVID-19. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

 Miller said his dis\u00adtrict would fol\u00adlow state guide\u00adlines to save more lives. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think you can antic\u00adi\u00adpate that there\u2019ll be few\u00ader cas\u00ades of mor\u00adbid\u00adi\u00adty and mor\u00adtal\u00adi\u00adty with\u00adin the state of Con\u00adnecti\u00adcut and with\u00adin the East\u00adern High\u00adlands Health Dis\u00adtrict as a result of fol\u00adlow\u00ading the sci\u00adence-based guid\u00adance pro\u00advid\u00aded by the Con\u00adnecti\u00adcut Depart\u00adment of Pub\u00adlic Health,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since Kennedy start\u00aded as DHHS sec\u00adre\u00adtary, the fed\u00ader\u00adal gov\u00adern\u00adment has shift\u00aded offi\u00adcial stances on the CDC web\u00adsite<\/a> to reflect his skep\u00adti\u00adcism about vac\u00adcines and con\u00adtention that they are relat\u00aded to autism. The CDC web\u00adsite was changed to say that \u201cthe state\u00adment \u2018Vac\u00adcines do not cause autism\u2019 is not an evi\u00addence-based claim.\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis con\u00adnec\u00adtion has not been prop\u00ader\u00adly and thor\u00adough\u00adly stud\u00adied by the sci\u00aden\u00adtif\u00adic com\u00admu\u00adni\u00adty,\u201d the updat\u00aded web\u00adsite said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mul\u00adti\u00adple stud\u00adies have found no con\u00adnec\u00adtion between child\u00adhood vac\u00adcines and autism. The Asso\u00adci\u00ada\u00adtion for Autism and Neu\u00adro\u00addi\u00adver\u00adsi\u00adty released a state\u00adment<\/a> say\u00ading it was \u201cdeeply con\u00adcerned\u201d about the changes to the web\u00adpage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThese edits removed long-stand\u00ading, evi\u00addence-based state\u00adments affirm\u00ading that vac\u00adcines do not cause autism and sub\u00adsti\u00adtut\u00aded word\u00ading that implies uncer\u00adtain\u00adty,\u201d the state\u00adment said. \u201cNo new sci\u00aden\u00adtif\u00adic find\u00adings prompt\u00aded this shift.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Trump admin\u00adis\u00adtra\u00adtion also released a fact sheet<\/a> in Sep\u00adtem\u00adber that point\u00aded to aceta\u00adminophen, the active ingre\u00addi\u00adent in Tylenol, as a pos\u00adsi\u00adble cause of autism when tak\u00aden dur\u00ading preg\u00adnan\u00adcy. Kennedy and Trump dis\u00adcour\u00adaged preg\u00adnant peo\u00adple from tak\u00ading Tylenol dur\u00ading a press con\u00adfer\u00adence about the fact sheet.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No stud\u00adies have proved a causal rela\u00adtion\u00adship between aceta\u00adminophen use dur\u00ading preg\u00adnan\u00adcy and autism in chil\u00addren, accord\u00ading to the World Health Orga\u00adni\u00adza\u00adtion<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Envi\u00adron\u00admen\u00adtal Health<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In March, the EPA announced<\/a> the \u201cmost con\u00adse\u00adquen\u00adtial day of dereg\u00adu\u00adla\u00adtion in U.S. his\u00adto\u00adry.\u201d This includ\u00aded recon\u00adsid\u00ader\u00ading emis\u00adsion guide\u00adlines on oil and gas, ter\u00admi\u00adnat\u00ading the envi\u00adron\u00admen\u00adtal jus\u00adtice arm and recon\u00adsid\u00ader\u00ading manda\u00adto\u00adry green\u00adhouse gas emis\u00adsions report\u00ading. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cToday is the great\u00adest day of dereg\u00adu\u00adla\u00adtion our nation has seen,\u201d EPA Admin\u00adis\u00adtra\u00adtor Lee Zeldin said in a press release<\/a>. \u201cWe are dri\u00adving a dag\u00adger straight into the heart of the cli\u00admate change reli\u00adgion to dri\u00adve down cost of liv\u00ading for Amer\u00adi\u00adcan fam\u00adi\u00adlies, unleash Amer\u00adi\u00adcan ener\u00adgy, bring auto jobs back to the U.S. and more.\u201d    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tra\u00adcy Bab\u00adbidge, bureau chief of air man\u00adage\u00adment at the Con\u00adnecti\u00adcut Depart\u00adment of Ener\u00adgy and Envi\u00adron\u00admen\u00adtal Pro\u00adtec\u00adtion, said the pace of the dereg\u00adu\u00adla\u00adto\u00adry agen\u00adda and vast new pro\u00adpos\u00adals is \u201cunlike any\u00adthing we\u2019ve ever seen.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think it real\u00adly has impact\u00aded the fed\u00ader\u00adal-state coop\u00ader\u00ada\u00adtive rela\u00adtion\u00adship and our abil\u00adi\u00adty to real\u00adly mean\u00ading\u00adful\u00adly engage in some of these pro\u00adpos\u00adals,\u201d Bab\u00adbidge said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Connecticut state capitol building at sunset
\nby Paul Danese<\/p>\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/SCI-Assault-CT-Capitol-1024x818.jpg\" src=\"http:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/SCI-Assault-CT-Capitol-1024x818.jpg\" alt class=\"wp-image-634\" srcset=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/SCI-Assault-CT-Capitol-1024x818.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/SCI-Assault-CT-Capitol-300x240.jpg 300w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/SCI-Assault-CT-Capitol-768x613.jpg 768w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/SCI-Assault-CT-Capitol-1536x1226.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/SCI-Assault-CT-Capitol.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\">
Con\u00adnecti\u00adcut state capi\u00adtol build\u00ading at sun\u00adset. Changes in fed\u00ader\u00adal rules can impact Con\u00adnecti\u00adcut\u2019s abil\u00adi\u00adty to enforce pol\u00adlu\u00adtion stan\u00addards. Pho\u00adto by Paul Danese<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Changes in fed\u00ader\u00adal rules can affect states like Connecticut\u2019s abil\u00adi\u00adty to enforce pol\u00adlu\u00adtion stan\u00addards, accord\u00ading to Emma Cimi\u00adno, deputy com\u00admis\u00adsion\u00ader of envi\u00adron\u00admen\u00adtal qual\u00adi\u00adty at DEEP. She said DEEP is \u201cmon\u00adi\u00adtor\u00ading that close\u00adly to under\u00adstand what those changes mean for us and the work we do and the tools we have avail\u00adable to us at the state lev\u00adel.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

She said the fed\u00ader\u00adal gov\u00adern\u00adment has been show\u00ading signs of want\u00adi\u00adng to dis\u00adman\u00adtle laws meant to main\u00adtain a healthy envi\u00adron\u00adment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think in gen\u00ader\u00adal, what we\u2019ve been see\u00ading this year has been a real roll back on some of the fed\u00ader\u00adal rules around the Clean Air Act, and I think we\u2019re see\u00ading sort of sim\u00adi\u00adlar, less aggres\u00adsive\u00adly, but we\u2019re cer\u00adtain\u00adly see\u00ading sim\u00adi\u00adlar kind of sig\u00adnal\u00ading around the Clean Water Act,\u201d Cimi\u00adno said.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cimi\u00adno said fed\u00ader\u00adal dol\u00adlars were also less of a guar\u00adan\u00adtee under the Trump admin\u00adis\u00adtra\u00adtion. but the agency is tak\u00ading steps to keep fed\u00ader\u00adal fund\u00ading already promised to the state. Con\u00adnecti\u00adcut announced in Octo\u00adber that it would join 21 oth\u00ader states and the Dis\u00adtrict of Colum\u00adbia to sue the EPA<\/a> for the can\u00adcel\u00adla\u00adtion of solar ener\u00adgy grants under the Infla\u00adtion Reduc\u00adtion Act. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re try\u00ading not to close the door on fund\u00ading we have,\u201d Cimi\u00adno said. \u201cWe\u2019re work\u00ading real\u00adly close\u00adly with the attor\u00adney gen\u00ader\u00adal\u2019s office where appro\u00adpri\u00adate to work through the courts to keep that fund\u00ading intact and avail\u00adable to us.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sci\u00adence and Research<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

 Of the more than 300 grants can\u00adcelled in Sep\u00adtem\u00adber by the Depart\u00adment of Ener\u00adgy, twelve projects were based in Con\u00adnecti\u00adcut. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grants for research in high\u00ader edu\u00adca\u00adtion were also tar\u00adget\u00aded. UConn alone lost about $41 mil\u00adlion in grant ter\u00admi\u00adna\u00adtions and unex\u00adpect\u00aded lack of renewals, accord\u00ading to Lind\u00adsay DiS\u00adte\u00adfano, the inter\u00adim vice pres\u00adi\u00addent for research at UConn.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Castleman Building, University of Connecticut School of Engineering, Storrs Connecticut. John Phelan, CC BY-SA 3.0<\/p>\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/ED-UCONNRESEARCH-Castleman-1024x768.jpg\" src=\"http:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/ED-UCONNRESEARCH-Castleman-1024x768.jpg\" alt class=\"wp-image-598\" style=\"width:463px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/ED-UCONNRESEARCH-Castleman-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/ED-UCONNRESEARCH-Castleman-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/ED-UCONNRESEARCH-Castleman-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/ED-UCONNRESEARCH-Castleman-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/ED-UCONNRESEARCH-Castleman.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\">
Castle\u00adman Build\u00ading, Uni\u00adver\u00adsi\u00adty of Con\u00adnecti\u00adcut School of Engi\u00adneer\u00ading, Storrs Con\u00adnecti\u00adcut. Fed\u00ader\u00adal research grant cuts have lost UConn about $41 mil\u00adlion. Pho\u00adto by John Phe\u00adlan, CC BY-SA 3.0<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Among those research\u00ading the envi\u00adron\u00adment, there is a new cul\u00adture of uncer\u00adtain\u00adty about the future of research, fund\u00ading and jobs.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

One such exam\u00adple is the Con\u00adnecti\u00adcut Sea Grant, spear\u00adhead\u00aded at UConn. The ini\u00adtia\u00adtive is one of many state and fed\u00ader\u00adal part\u00adner\u00adships for marine research through the Nation\u00adal Ocean\u00adic and Atmos\u00adpher\u00adic Admin\u00adis\u00adtra\u00adtion. The agency is respon\u00adsi\u00adble for weath\u00ader and cli\u00admate mon\u00adi\u00adtor\u00ading as well as coast\u00adline and fish\u00adery man\u00adage\u00adment, mak\u00ading it espe\u00adcial\u00adly impor\u00adtant to coastal states like Con\u00adnecti\u00adcut. In the first year of the Trump admin\u00adis\u00adtra\u00adtion, hun\u00addreds of NOAA employ\u00adees were fired, re-instat\u00aded and fired again dur\u00ading the first year of the Trump admin\u00adis\u00adtra\u00adtion, leav\u00ading employ\u00adees in a \u201clim\u00adi\u00adnal state,\u201d PBS report\u00aded.<\/a>   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sec\u00adre\u00adtary of Com\u00admerce Howard Lut\u00adnick began per\u00adson\u00adal\u00adly review\u00ading NOAA grants over $100,000, which researchers said caused a delay in the grants sent to NOAA as the agency faced major staff reduc\u00adtions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Con\u00adnecti\u00adcut Sea Grant Direc\u00adtor Syl\u00advain De Guise said this meant delayed pay\u00adments for orga\u00adni\u00adza\u00adtions like his. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt was August by the time we received our first dol\u00adlars for the grant year that start\u00aded Feb\u00adru\u00adary,\u201d De Guise said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This fos\u00adtered uncer\u00adtain\u00adty among those doing envi\u00adron\u00admen\u00adtal research with the Con\u00adnecti\u00adcut Sea Grant, which received about $1.5 mil\u00adlion in core fed\u00ader\u00adal funds last year, accord\u00ading to its 2024 annu\u00adal report<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe have a bunch of employ\u00adees that are expect\u00ading to be paid, and then there\u2019s all those lev\u00adels of uncer\u00adtain\u00adty,\u201d De Guise said. \u201cAnd we have no answers to a lot of uncer\u00adtain\u00adty and a lot of anx\u00adi\u00adety, but then you\u2019re sup\u00adposed to keep doing your job and doing it good.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Trump admin\u00adis\u00adtra\u00adtion is tak\u00ading a \u201cshort-sight\u00aded\u201d view of ener\u00adgy and the envi\u00adron\u00adment, Attor\u00adney Gen\u00ader\u00adal Tong said. He said the admin\u00adis\u00adtra\u00adtion is choos\u00ading favored indus\u00adtries, like cryp\u00adtocur\u00adren\u00adcy and arti\u00adfi\u00adcial intel\u00adli\u00adgence, over long-term pub\u00adlic health and envi\u00adron\u00admen\u00adtal well-being. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTheir strat\u00ade\u00adgy is to break it all apart, blow it up so that the fos\u00adsil fuel com\u00adpa\u00adnies can make as much mon\u00adey as they pos\u00adsi\u00adbly can in the short term,\u201d Tong said. \u201cThe future be damned.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sara Bedi\u00adgian and Sam Brody con\u00adtributed report\u00ading to this sto\u00adry.<\/em> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Jen\u00adna Out\u00adcaltUConn Jour\u00adnal\u00adism The Unit\u00aded States has long been a leader in sci\u00aden\u00adtif\u00adic research and a col\u00adlab\u00ado\u00adra\u00adtor with oth\u00ader coun\u00adtries and state gov\u00adern\u00adments on pub\u00adlic health and oth\u00ader sci\u00aden\u00adtif\u00adic endeav\u00adors.  But after a year of mis\u00adlead\u00ading claims about vac\u00adcines, cli\u00admate change and oth\u00ader sci\u00aden\u00adtif\u00adic issues and cuts to research fund\u00ading, the future of research and reg\u00adu\u00adla\u00adtions on health and the envi\u00adron\u00adment has [\u2026]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":973,"featured_media":1280,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wp_typography_post_enhancements_disabled":false,"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[14,16,1],"tags":[21,20,19,22,18,31],"class_list":["post-408","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-communities","category-education","category-executive-power","tag-environment","tag-health","tag-public-health","tag-research","tag-science","tag-uconn"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/10\/SC-assault-science-protest-2025_barbara-burgess-unsplash.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1988,"url":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/08\/protecting-science-research-and-programs\/","url_meta":{"origin":408,"position":0},"title":"Protecting Science and Research Programs","author":"Charlotte Harvey","date":"January 8, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Press Release: Attorney General Tong Sues Trump Administration to Protect Scientific Research Preceding Event: On April 18, 2025, The National Science Foundation (NSF) began ending projects focused on increasing the participation of women, minorities and people with disabilities in STEM fields. Some of these projects included studies on misinformation and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "lawsuits"","block_context":{"text":"lawsuits","link":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/category\/lawsuits\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":524,"url":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/05\/federal-research-cuts-hit-uconn\/","url_meta":{"origin":408,"position":1},"title":"Federal research cuts hit UConn ","author":"Sara Bedigian","date":"January 5, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"By Sara Bedigian UConn Journalism Sign on the University of Connecticut Storrs campus. UConn has lost $95 million in federal funding over the past year. Photo by Sara Bedigian University of Connecticut\u00a0Professor\u00a0Jennifer\u00a0McGarry\u00a0has spent more than 20 years running a federally\u00a0funded program that provides nutrition and physical activity support to low-income\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Education"","block_context":{"text":"Education","link":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/category\/education\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/IMG_4228-scaled.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/IMG_4228-scaled.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/IMG_4228-scaled.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/IMG_4228-scaled.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/IMG_4228-scaled.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/IMG_4228-scaled.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":654,"url":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/05\/trump-administration-takes-on-higher-ed\/","url_meta":{"origin":408,"position":2},"title":"How federal grant cuts and funding freezes threaten higher education","author":"Sara Bedigian","date":"January 5, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"By Sara BedigianUConn Journalism Fairfield Way on the University of Connecticut Storrs campus. UConn, Connecticut's flagship university, has faced millions of dollars of federal research grant cuts. Photo by Sara Bedigian Higher education has been considered a pillar of scientific research, drug discovery and technological innovation that has fueled the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Education"","block_context":{"text":"Education","link":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/category\/education\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/IMG_4362-2-scaled.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/IMG_4362-2-scaled.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/IMG_4362-2-scaled.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/IMG_4362-2-scaled.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/IMG_4362-2-scaled.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/IMG_4362-2-scaled.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1818,"url":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/07\/nih-and-hhs-funding-for-medical-research\/","url_meta":{"origin":408,"position":3},"title":"NIH and HHS Funding for Medical Research","author":"Charlotte Harvey","date":"January 7, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Press Release: Attorney General Tong Sues to Stop Trump from Defunding Lifesaving Medical Research Preceding Event: The National Institute of Health announced on Feb. 7, 2025 that it was going to cut grant rates to 15% across the board. 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Unchecked.\u00a0\u00a0 These\u00a0are\u00a0some of the words that have been used by many to describe the actions of President Donald Trump during his second term in office.\u00a0\u00a0 Upon returning to the White House in January 2025, Trump has taken sweeping actions that have promoted a broad\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Executive Power"","block_context":{"text":"Executive Power","link":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/category\/executive-power\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/January_2025_Official_Presidential_Portrait_of_Donald_J._Trump.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/January_2025_Official_Presidential_Portrait_of_Donald_J._Trump.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/January_2025_Official_Presidential_Portrait_of_Donald_J._Trump.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/January_2025_Official_Presidential_Portrait_of_Donald_J._Trump.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1096,"url":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/05\/trump-second-term-spurs-dei-culture-shift\/","url_meta":{"origin":408,"position":5},"title":"Trump second term spurs DEI culture shift ","author":"Christi Thrower","date":"January 5, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"By Christi Thrower\u00a0UConn Journalism Underrepresented. 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Woman.\u00a0 These are some of the words\u00a0or phrases\u00a0deleted\u00a0from federal agencies\u2019\u00a0websites\u00a0and\u00a0targeted by\u00a0grant\u00a0cuts\u00a0in the past year\u00a0\u2013\u00a0just one\u00a0part of a sweeping campaign by President Donald Trump\u2019s administration to remove \u201cDEI rhetoric\u201d from public\u00a0life.\u00a0 In\u00a0the first year of his second term, Trump has used threats to federal\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Communities"","block_context":{"text":"Communities","link":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/category\/communities\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/White-House-Washington-DC-101525-Bunnell.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/White-House-Washington-DC-101525-Bunnell.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/White-House-Washington-DC-101525-Bunnell.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/files\/2025\/12\/White-House-Washington-DC-101525-Bunnell.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pgTa6m-6A","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/408","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/973"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=408"}],"version-history":[{"count":30,"href":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/408\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1699,"href":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/408\/revisions\/1699"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1280"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=408"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=408"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=408"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}