A new executive order signed by President Donald Trump — if implemented — would grant political appointees sweeping authority over federal grant funding. The executive order has been met with universal criticism from scientists and research advocates, saying it will replace scientific merit with ideological loyalty to the Trump administration.
Evans called the executive order "a direct attack on scientific integrity at federal agencies."
"The executive order is the latest in a nonstop campaign from the Trump administration to make the [research] environment for young scientists in America as hostile as possible," Evans said. "At worst, it could turn off the flow of funding to any area of research that Trump or his appointees don't like or believe are counter to 'American values'."
Rare earths are needed for everything from consumer electronics to electric vehicles, wind turbines and fighter jets – and China controls the supply chain. In an interview with the South China Morning Post, Evans highlights this as China's strongest leverage point and cautions that U.S. visa restrictions and anti-China policies risk driving away Chinese scientific talent, aiding Beijing's push for technological self-reliance. Evans adds that this trend could harm long-standing U.S.-China scientific collaboration and predicted that U.S. controls may not significantly weaken China’s lead in rare earth processing or its broader tech ambitions.
Many Americans are paying hundreds, even thousands of dollars more for healthcare than necessary, and routine doctor visits are sometimes followed by unexpected high bills. Ho, chair of Health Economics at Rice University’s Baker Institute, has researched these fees, finding key developments that are adverse to consumers.
“Five years ago, urgent care centers offered lower prices. The problem is that healthcare systems are acquiring these centers and adding facility fees,” Ho said. “And they’re expanding their reach even further into the suburbs so they can charge higher prices to even more people because their pricing power just becomes stronger, the larger they get. And the public does not understand it.”
The Trump administration’s move to slash science funding ran into a roadblock as the Senate Committee on Appropriations voted 19-10 on Thursday to keep funding for the National Science Foundation and other federal science agencies nearly intact for the 2026 fiscal year. Evans and fellow research advocates were encouraged by lawmakers’ willingness to break with Trump, who has proposed cutting the NSF’s budget by more than half.
“For the last couple months, it’s just felt like blow after blow,” Evans said. “For now, dodging an existential cut is a big win in light of everything that’s going on.”
In this article, Sana Patel highlights how technology has expanded access to religious guidance among Muslims, especially during COVID-19, by enabling online sermons and e-imams. However, she raises concerns about consumerism invading sacred spaces and also emphasizes how digital platforms empower marginalized Muslims to form inclusive, identity-affirming communities.
“Where they might struggle to find inclusive mosques in real life, minority Muslims can create and join safe spaces, online communities that accept them regardless of their gender or sexual orientation,” Patel said.