Summary: Federal science funding in the U.S. is facing significant cuts and layoffs, which could harm innovation and productivity growth. The private sector cannot fully replace the essential role of government funding in basic research, as it often focuses on commercial applications rather than pioneering scientific work. Reducing federal investment in research may weaken the country’s technological edge and hinder its ability to compete globally, especially against rivals like China.
If there’s something that makes the U.S. and other modern developed nations more successful than those old empires, it’s not the strength of their armies or the superiority of their religious beliefs — it’s a healthy respect for the march of systematically acquired knowledge of the natural world. (View Highlight)