Scientific research is the lifeblood of our economy. Now, a wrecking ball has come.

Demonstrators attend rally outside National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration headquarters to oppose the recent worker firings, in Sliver Spring, Md., on Monday, March 3, 2025.

The first 10 weeks of the Trump administration have sent shock waves through the science community. Many expected the second Trump administration to follow the pattern of the first. But I certainly didn't expect a broad-scale assault on the U.S. science enterprise itself.

Elon Musk emerged as Trump's leader of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). There seems to be no strategy behind the department's decisions. As the U.S. comptroller general stated, "There needs to be changes, but it needs to be done in a more systematic, thoughtful way…" Without careful planning, "you can introduce more risk."