We, in the international scientific community, recognize the value of diverse scientific backgrounds and lifetime experiences in our workforce and the importance of collaboration within and across national boundaries. An objective of this collaboration is to accelerate the dissemination of scientific advances to the global population, enabled by organizations designed for this purpose.
Thus, we express alarm over the withdrawal of the US from the World Health Organization and the Paris Agreement on climate change, the effective closure of USAID, the appointment of a vaccine sceptic to lead the US Department of Health and Human Services, the attempted freeze and proposed limitation of funding of US Science by the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health, and the stifling of initiatives to support diversity, equity and inclusion in the scientific workforce. More than a dozen of the advising, convening, and other activities of the US National Academy of Sciences have either been suspended or have received stop work orders.
US biomedical research has led the world with therapeutic breakthroughs, most recently illustrated by the utility of RNA vaccines in the COVID-19 pandemic and has saved countless lives by dissemination of treatments for HIV to low-income countries.
We express solidarity with Scientists working in the US. We urge the Trump administration to restore funding and stability to this precious and complex enterprise and to re-establish engagement with the global community.
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