One of the reasons the United States is the greatest country in the world is because we foster and reward innovation. Investing in programs at the National Institutes of Health makes it a leading driver of life-saving scientific breakthroughs. However, the NIH is slated to lose $6 billion under President Trump’s proposed budget. That’s almost 20 percent of its budget.
If we walk away from our commitment to the NIH and its work, we are abdicating our place as the best on the globe at finding cures. Ask yourself, do you want to rely on China or Canada to develop the next drug to cure cancer or Alzheimer’s? I certainly don’t. People of all ages, colors and creeds are impacted by everything from arthritis to HIV. They need the NIH to find new ways to keep them healthy.
The same logic that applies to NIH cuts applies to the significant cuts for the Office of Science in the Department of Energy. A lack of investment in innovation and scientific research can lead to the U.S. becoming less competitive in growth sectors of the international marketplace.
According to the DOE website, the Office of Science research programs include computing research, nuclear physics, as well as biological and environmental research. The DOE Office of Science is also responsible for a number of educational programs for both scientists and teachers alike. Taking away funding from the Office of Science is taking a step backwards from what fuels 21st-century growth.
Finally, proposed cuts to climate change initiatives under the EPA and NASA are ill-informed. Yes, elections have consequences and Trump made it clear that climate research was not a priority. However, just because the administration wants to eliminate most of the government’s climate change programs does not mean they are also eliminating the reality of climate change itself.
Climate change is not going away. Commercial livestock is just as much as a contributor to CO2 emissions as a coal-fired plant. More, not less research needs to be done in this area, and meaningful research can be done without imposing burdensome regulations on either agriculture or manufacturing. I believe in science, and as such, I believe it is an area of sound investment that will help advance our health, well-being and quality of life.
I hope when Trump’s budget goes in front of Congress, enough members will share my view and restore funding to his proposed cuts.
Capri Cafaro (@thehonorablecsc) is a contributor to the Washington Examiner’s Beltway Confidential blog. She is a former member of the Ohio State Senate, where she was the Senate minority leader. She is now an Executive in Residence at American University’s School of Public Affairs.
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