The Trump administration is questioning U.S.-funded researchers abroad to ensure the projects do not contain anti-American or diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) topics.
A questionnaire sent to Canadian and Australian researchers involved in projects funded by the U.S. asks if the research contains “DEI elements” or “environmental justice” or if the research institutions work with “communist, socialist or totalitarian parties,” according to the document. The questionnaire stems from an executive memo issued Feb. 6 by the Trump administration instructing agencies to review all federally funded non-governmental organizations and align them with “future funding decisions with the interests of the United States.”
“Can you confirm that your agency has not collaborated with, had any accusations or investigations of working with an entity on the terrorism watch list, cartels, narco/human traffickers, organized or groups that promote mass migration in the last ten years,” one question asks. Another ensures projects “take appropriate measures to protect women and to defend against gender ideology” in alignment with President Donald Trump’s executive order.
Noncompliance with these standards could end with the Trump administration pulling funding from the researchers.
“Several agencies are sending questionnaires in compliance with President Trump’s executive order to reevaluate foreign aid,” White House Deputy press secretary Anna Kelly told the Daily Caller News Foundation. “Any foreign aid funded by American taxpayers should align with American interests.”
It is not clear how many countries and researchers received these questionnaires.
Researchers and academics quickly responded to the 29-question document, with the Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT) saying in a press release that “the Trump administration is undermining the integrity and independence of academic research conducted in Canada.”
“Our institutions and the federal government need to push back in the strongest possible way against this blatant attempt to interfere in academic research and trample upon academic freedom,” CAUT executive director David Robinson said in the release. “The integrity and independence of research is necessary to protect the public interest. We need to make it clear that there is no room for political interference in research in Canada.”
CAUT is calling on the Canadian government to step in and fund its own research so they do not have to abide by Trump’s demands.
“We simply can’t allow any government to direct research in this way,” Robinson said in the release. “In the face of the Trump administration’s threats, we need a made-in-Canada solution. Ottawa must step up to ensure the vital research that is being threatened by the U.S. is properly funded and supported.”
CAUT does not directly receive funding from the U.S. or Canadian governments and was not asked to respond to the questionnaire, the DCNF was informed by an organization’s spokesman.
The Australian Academy of Science (AAS) meanwhile is urging the Australian government “to actively and urgently engage with its American counterparts to mitigate risks,” though it said it should also “resist foreign interference,” according to a press release from the organization. The U.S. is Australia’s largest research partner, sending 386 million Australian dollars to the country for research in 2024 alone, the equivalent of roughly $250.9 million.
The U.S.’s contributions to Australian sciences are equivalent to 43% of the funding provided in research grants by the Australian Government, per the AAS. Roughly 40% of Australia’s physical science research and 25% of the country’s biomedical and clinical science research involves U.S. collaborators.
The Trump administration has been taking a hammer to terrorism supporters and DEI proponents, revoking funding from Columbia University over its protection of antisemitic protests. The administration has also cut funding from the University of Pennsylvania for allowing men to compete in women’s sports despite the president’s orders.
AAS did not respond to the DCNF’s request for comment.
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