US research retrenchment creates opening for global realignment

The United States is undergoing a dramatic restructuring of its federal research ecosystem — one marked by deep funding cuts, mass layoffs, and institutional upheaval. As a result, long-standing pillars of science there are faltering, casting doubt on the country's ability to sustain its global leadership in innovation and research. For the rest of the world — China in particular — this disruption presents a rare strategic opening.

On May 22, the US Department of Homeland Security revoked Harvard University's certification to host international students under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program. Just days later, President Donald Trump threatened to cut $3 billion in federal funding if Harvard failed to hand over a list of its foreign students. This political intrusion into academic governance comes at a moment of cascading instability.

Johns Hopkins University was recently forced to lay off over 2,000 staff members after an $800 million funding freeze from the US Agency for International Development. Columbia University has lost over $250 million in research support, slashing 400 projects due to structural reforms at the National Institutes of Health. Duke University, facing a 60 percent drop in NIH-backed grants in 2025, has halted expansion, cut PhD admissions, and scaled back existing programs.

Leading institutions like Penn, Harvard, and Emory have frozen hiring due to unstable funding flows. Collectively, these moves are shaking the confidence of researchers in the long-term viability of US-based scientific careers, particularly among international talent.

Since February, US federal research bodies have embarked on sweeping downsizing campaigns. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, under the US Department of Commerce, has laid off nearly 2,000 employees; the US Geological Survey is cutting 240 positions; NASA has shuttered key policy and science offices. Meanwhile, the National Institutes of Health, under the US Department of Health and Human Services, is preparing to lay off 1,200 staff members. The US Food and Drug Administration and CDC are eliminating 3,500 and 550 positions, respectively. Even the National Institute of Standards and Technology — integral to the CHIPS Act and AI safety — is shedding 500 jobs.

This isn't just retrenchment. It's a radical redefinition of the US' scientific priorities — one that risks diminishing its long-held edge in biomedicine, semiconductors, and global health leadership.

China, if it acts decisively, can turn this moment into a momentum. Attracting world-class talent requires more than funding. It demands institutional openness, globally compatible governance structures, cultural inclusiveness, and a robust platform for long-term collaboration.

By building a secure, stable, and forward-looking research environment, China can become a natural destination for top-tier scientists seeking continuity and impact. In an era where scientific progress is increasingly transnational, China's ability to seize this opportunity may well determine its leadership role in shaping the future of global innovation.

Zhang Han is an associate professor and Yang Guoliang is a professor at the Institutes of Science and Development, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences.

The views don't necessarily reflect those of China Daily.

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