Does the Moon exist when Trump isn't looking?

GenevaOver the past few weeks, hundreds of reports have vanished from the websites of conferences organized by the Lunar and Planetary Institute (LPI). Located in Houston, Texas, the Lunar and Planetary Institute is a NASA-funded research institute, operated independently by the federal government, and responsible for maintaining archives and important information on research conducted in the field of planetary science. Many researchers have spoken out against the removal of content from its website. "This is outrageous censorship of science," says Ingrid Daubnar, a planetary scientist at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, who has seen reports she herself authored disappear.

Diversity in the spotlight

All the deleted content has a common theme: Diversity, equity and inclusion, known by the acronym DEI (diversity, equality and inclusion) and which is in the spotlight since Trump took office for his second term. Since January 20, the Republican administration approved an executive order defunding any research program related to these issues, which Trump himself called "illegal, immoral, and discriminatory."

The reports were removed from the LPI website without the authors' consent. Many of them are multi-page documents that cover important ideas in the field of planetary science. These reports include, for example, studies on aspects related to the formation of scientific teams for space missions or information gathered by the rover A curiosity about the chemistry of Mars. Some scientists consider these practices typical of an Orwellian state with the clear intention of rewriting history. Mark Sykes, a scientist at the Planetary Science Institute in Tucson, Arizona, defines the decision as "a profound ethical failure."

In fact, many federal agencies, including NASA, have already removed DEI-related content from their websites in response to the executive order. The agency has organized planetary science conferences, trained researchers, and maintained databases on topics such as lunar craters.

The executive order passed a few months ago puts a stop to a large number of scholarships and contracts that support underrepresented groups in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) disciplines. The Trump administration gave federal institutions two months to implement the necessary measures, including the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Trump cuts science and research

The impact that the executive order has had on diversity, equity and inclusion We must also add the significant cuts that many universities and research centers have suffered since the American magnate began his second term. At the beginning of May, the US government issued a document announcing a 23% cut in all spending not related to national defense. This will reduce the National Science Foundation (NSF)'s funding by 56%, and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will be affected by an approximate 40% reduction. Furthermore, The Environmental Protection Agency will also suffer a 55% cut in just one year. The Trump administration is thus seeking to eliminate programs that it considers "radical" and "woke".

The cuts have already laid off thousands of people across various federal agencies, including the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the National Health Service (NHS), which have seen their workforces reduced by thousands. The first to be sacrificed were the researchers with the shortest tenure.

One of the branches where the cuts affect the most is the biomedical research, traditionally one of the most cutting-edge research sectors in the United States, with a total budget of $47 billion. Trump's policies have also significantly affected global health research programs and will have a significant impact on research into diseases such as HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis, as well as humanitarian aid programs for developing countries.

The Trump administration's policies are causing the number of federal investigators to be reduced more than during any previous administration. spurring many scientists to look for alternatives outside beyond the borders of American territory. Several European countries, including Catalonia, have already taken steps to catalyze this talent into their territories.