Group 1 - The core viewpoint of the article highlights that nearly 150 employees of the National Science Foundation (NSF) have expressed their opposition to the Trump administration's actions, which they believe undermine the agency's independence and normal operations [1] - The employees are calling on the U.S. Congress to uphold the NSF's scientific mission and protect the rights of its staff [1]

Core Viewpoint - The new U.S. government's science policies have shocked the scientific community, undermining the foundation of American research and causing significant harm to global scientific collaboration [1][2]. Group 1: Government Interference - The American Council on Education has issued a public letter opposing unprecedented government overreach and political interference in higher education, with 562 leaders from U.S. colleges and academic organizations signing it as of April 29 [2]. - The new government has attempted to reshape scientific research by limiting data access, restricting research scope, severing ties with international health organizations, and dismissing early-career researchers [2]. - The U.S. government has deleted numerous public datasets related to air quality, earthquake intensity, and seabed geology to suppress politically biased research results [2]. Group 2: Impact on Research Funding - The new administration has threatened to cut billions in funding for research universities and has terminated over 1,000 grants in critical areas such as climate change, cancer, Alzheimer's, and AIDS prevention [3][4]. - The National Science Foundation, a leading global research funding agency, faces a proposed budget cut of 55% from its $9 billion budget, with a significant reduction in staff [3]. - The National Institutes of Health, the largest biomedical research funding agency, has seen approximately 780 funding projects terminated or partially halted, affecting key areas like vaccines and public health [4]. Group 3: Global Research Collaboration - The U.S. policy changes have disrupted many international research projects, posing significant risks to global scientific collaboration [5]. - The U.S. has cut billions in global health spending, with an estimated $12 billion allocated for 2024, potentially leading to an increase of about 25 million deaths globally over the next 15 years without this funding [5]. - Many research institutions worldwide are joining efforts to back up at-risk U.S. scientific data, indicating a collective response to the challenges posed by U.S. policies [5].