The Importance of Free Universities and Research to America’s Future

"I believe it is a strategic mistake to undermine U.S. leadership in science, engineering, and medicine by recklessly cancelling billions of dollars in previously approved research funding." - Dr. Joseph N. Pelton

For many centuries the strength of a nation was measured by the size of its army and navy. In today’s world, country’s strength is measured in a more complicated way. National armed

forces, intelligence and surveillance capabilities, nuclear weapons, air, space, missile defense systems and cyber security for vital infrastructure are all necessary. But this just the beginning. Alliances with other countries such as through NATO and the Organization of American States are also important. These can take decades to build, but only moments to destroy. Then there is the strength of the national economy. This is based on a nation’s overall productivity (as measured by GDP), but also relies on stable markets and trade agreements with trusted partners. These bonds have now been shaken and may not be easily repaired. The U.S. dollar is now under attack as billions, and perhaps soon trillions of dollars in U.S. bonds are being off-loaded—not only by China but other investors around the world. Indeed, the US dollar which has long underpinned the global economy, may no longer serve as the accepted international currency it has for most of our lifetimes.

What is not as well understood by many people is the importance of a strong and thriving

scientific and research community. Since at least World War II, innovation has powered U.S.

economic growth. Over a century and a half ago there were about an equal number of

scientists and engineers in Argentina and the United States. Today the U.S. has a scientific and industrial complex second to none. It has a vast and admired higher education system that excels in scientific and engineering capabilities. There is a network of U.S. government and industrial scientific laboratories, and an aerospace and hig- tech industry showcased in Silicon Valley, but actually spread across the nation with important centers in Boston, Dallas, Denver, Washington, DC,/Maryland, and Virginia, as well New York and California. Of the newest, largest and most successful high-tech companies in the world, U.S. companies top the list. Apple is number one at $3 trillion, Microsoft is number two at 2.8 Trillion, NVIDIA is number three at $2.5 trillion, Amazon is number four at $1.96 Trillion, and Alphabet-Google is number five at $1.92 trillion.

The U.S. leads the world today because it has a large and powerful army and a thriving

economy supported by a powerful research and technology establishment. The U.S. is currently a world leader in aerospace, electronics, computer systems and applications, AI, robotics, and biosciences. Until three months ago the U.S. had a robust economy that was envy of the world. It had overcome the Covid 17 pandemic and the global supply chain problems that fueled inflation and damaged the entire global economy.

But there is now a wave of changes that are pushing the U.S. and the world economy toward not only a recession marked by slowed productivity and economic growth and high unemployment, but paired with rapid inflation that is known as “stagflation.” Economists have indicated that significant tariffs will raise consumer prices, slow spending, and trigger further industry layoffs. Slashing the federal workforce and public funding for research labs and universities will further undermine the economy. Cornell University has more than $1 billion of federal funds frozen and Northwestern nearly $800 million. And other universities will be next on the list.

It will add to a surge in unemployment. It will quickly hasten the way to “stagflation.” It will weaken U.S. efforts to compete in the world market with China and is already serving to create a brain drain of key workers and researchers in science and engineering. Since the start of 2025 China has announced it capabilities in the area known as Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) with first Deep Seek and now Manus. These “smart” AI capabilities seem well positioned to compete with the best that U.S. companies now have on offer. Cuts to U.S. science, technology, engineering, and research is like killing the goose that lays the golden eggs.

Recent cuts in food safety inspections, medical research and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) present a direct threat to public health and safety. AID funding that was serving to contain disease outbreaks in Africa may now produce new global pandemics. We are already seeing some of these impacts at home. Cuts at Health and Human Services, NIH, and CDC are prompting concerns about public health as reports emerge of as avian flu mutations infecting humans. But these cuts are not only in medical research and public safety. NASA’s space research budget has been cut by more than half. A recent USA news article was entitled: “NASA Spending Cuts May Make Failure an Option”. In addition to NASA, science, research and development is also being cut at the

National Science Foundation, Department of Energy, and the Department of Commerce. 

The most recent federal attack is focused on leading U.S. research universities. Harvard University suddenly had $2 billion in research funding cuts. Johns Hopkins University (where I live in the Washington, D.C. area) has endured massive cuts as well. Between losses of federal research grants and its Advanced Physics Lab, (which rivals California’s Jet Propulsion Lab in aerospace and high-tech research) over 2000 employees have been summarily let go. This will not only steepen the curve of unemployment in the D.C. area, it will also lead to lost research competence and “brain drain.” 

In a free society it is important to fund and support education, encourage research and discovery, and produce a continuous map to future advancement. Cutting science and attacking universities is a big mistake. It will push the U.S. economy toward stagnation, increase unemployment, weaken our future economic growth potential and the ability to compete effectively with China. The bottom line is that current U.S. policies on science and education are risking: loss of highly skilled jobs; high inflation due to lost efficiency gains; reduced education and research competence; and falling behind China in critical areas of future growth.

In short, I believe it is a strategic mistake to undermine U.S. leadership in science, engineering, and medicine by recklessly cancelling billions of dollars in previously approved research funding. We are cutting our lifeline to the future and crushing our economy. We are also risking our immediate health and well-being as well as that of future generations. This is not a political protest, but rather a call for logical thinking about what America First might actually mean—especially in terms of where to invest now for our shared future.