“Science, technology, innovation—it is what made our country great. And unfortunately, this administration doesn’t understand that,” said Congressman Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10), kicking off Things We’ll Never Know: A Science Fair of Canceled Grants. The event on July 8, hosted by the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology Democrats, featured more than 28 scientists who came together at the Capitol to share a whopping 19 research projects and grants recently canceled by agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Homeland Security, and National Science Foundation. Presented on large, printed posters, the loss of this magnitude of work is immeasurable.
Tell Congress: Freezing Federal Funding Hurts Children
Here’s a snapshot of just three climate-related science projects featured at the event— part celebration, part funeral—that the world will now have to do without because of funding cuts.
1. How soot pollution harms children
Jane Clougherty, Environment and Occupational Health Professor at Drexel University, presented Understanding Pediatric Susceptibility Across Temperature and Environment in New York (UPStATE NY). Encapsulating 15 years of research, the formerly EPA-funded project investigated the harm of PM2.5 (a.k.a. soot pollution) and extreme heat on children’s health across urban and rural areas. The diverse data set across New York State would allow for findings to be applicable to a wide range of communities.
Preliminary results indicated that more heat, air pollution, and soot exposure increases health risks and emergency department visits. The next step in the project was to identify characteristics that made children more resilient to these factors in an effort to improve health outcomes.
“Children’s lungs are larger relative to the rest of their bodies,” Dr. Clougherty said, adding that there will be increased risks to child health now that governmental, clinical, and community partners will lack crucial information needed to make informed intervention efforts.
2. Predicting and preparing for coastal hazards
Austin Becker, Professor and Chair of Marine Affairs at the University of Rhode Island, presented Resilience and Early Warning Systems for New England’s Coastal Infrastructure, recently terminated by the Department of Homeland Security Center of Excellence.
Dr. Becker emphasized that the research wasn’t just about increasing knowledge; it was designed to provide a way for politicians, emergency managers, first responders, and communities to prepare.
“Decision makers need the best possible information about how a storm might impact the areas they’re responsible for, both in real-time as a storm is approaching, and also for long-term planning purposes,” he said.
Dr. Becker’s poster made clear that any costs the administration saved by cutting funding for this critical research pales in comparison to possible benefits. Extreme weather events, such as the catastrophic flooding across the country this summer, are becoming more frequent due to climate change and devastating families and children across the nation.
3. Cleaner air with electrified freight vehicles
Julie Cidell, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Professor and Department Head of Geography and Geographic Information Science, presented Electrification, Emissions, Exposure, and Equity: Community-Driven Scenarios for Freight Vehicle Electrification.
Approximately 50% of this project’s research was completed when the 11 EPA grants supporting it were individually cancelled in mid-May.
The transportation sector is the largest source of climate pollution in the U.S., and diesel exhaust is a known carcinogen, with economically disadvantaged communities and communities of color carrying a disproportionately heavy burden. Children are particularly vulnerable to the health impacts, including asthma, lung infections, heart attacks, stroke, premature death, and cancer.
Dr. Cidell and her team were investigating the barriers and costs to freight vehicle electrification in Little Village, a primarily Hispanic Chicago neighborhood. Her team was collecting air quality data and tracking changes throughout the day. Eventually, they hoped to develop an online, interactive mapping tool representing different scenarios of electrification (10% of trucks, then 25%, etc.) accessible to community members, but with no funding, there will be no such tool.
“The residents of Little Village will continue to experience one diesel truck every 30 seconds driving through their neighborhood, with poorer health and increased mortality as a result,” the poster read.
Looking forward
The Trump administration’s decision to slash funding from these research projects—just three of over 1,500, totaling over $1 billion in canceled contracts—carries direct and severe health consequences for children and families across the nation.
“Let’s make one thing clear: Anything that isn’t closely aligned with Donald Trump’s agenda is going to get no support,” said Congressman Don Beyer (VA-8), addressing the crowd at the science fair. “But the inherent, incredible thing about science is that it has no political agenda. It rises above all political spats and trivial vendettas and name calling.”
But can science continue to rise above without adequate funding? Nobel Prize-winning physicist Adam Reiss, who also spoke at the event, has doubts.
“We won’t just lose progress. We’ll lose people … as other countries step up to welcome the talent and potential that was cast aside. But it is not too late. Congress can still provide the needed funding. To quote the famous science advocate, Mary Lasker, if you think research is expensive, try disease,” Dr. Reiss said.
While no one currently knows all—or any—of the answers in this unprecedented moment of scientific defunding, Reiss is certain of one thing: “Sustained investment in science is our best and only path to get there.”