Introduction

New anti-science highlights and developments across the last thirty days. Sourced from Reddit, X, YouTube, Hacker News, Polymarket, and Bluesky. News is updated on a weekly basis.

"In the age of technology there is constant access to vast amounts of information. The basket overflows; people get overwhelmed; the eye of the storm is not so much what goes on in the world, it is the confusion of how to think, feel, digest, and react to what goes on."

Criss Jami, American Author, Musician and Philosopher

NIH Science Funding Gridlock - A Critical Chokepoint

The most acute anti-science story right now is the near-paralysis of U.S. biomedical research funding. As of late March, the NIH has only obligated around 15% of the estimated $38 billion it has to distribute in grants and contracts to universities and research institutions this fiscal year, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges.

The White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) used what has historically been a routine process for releasing funds to slow things down - sparking fears that key research agencies might end up spending far less this year than Congress approved.

There was a small breakthrough just days ago: Biomedical researchers breathed a sigh of relief after the White House loosened the purse strings that had hindered the NIH from spending its 2026 budget on research grants. The OMB approved NIH apportionments on March 16, confirmed at a congressional hearing.

But the damage is real: Since October, the NIH has awarded 63% fewer new grants than the average at this point over the past five fiscal years, and many universities have lowered the number of Ph.D. students admitted in life sciences this year, or admitted them with the caveat that they may not be supported.

The Broader Federal Research Picture

A year into Trump's second term, the administration has substantially scaled back what science the country pursues. More than 25,000 scientists and personnel have left science agencies, many at early career stages. The administration's proposed budget for FY2026 requested historic cuts of 35% to non-defense R&D - which, after inflation adjustment, would reduce spending to 1991 levels.

Congress pushed back. The NIH is scheduled to receive $48.7 billion - a $415 million increase over 2025. NASA's budget is set for just a 1.6% cut, and the NSF will take a 3.4% cut NBC News - far less severe than the administration's original proposals of cutting NSF by 57% and NIH by 40%.

Still, the situation remains precarious. The AAAS's chief government relations officer described the bipartisan budget deal as a "double-edged sword," saying: "I would not say that the research community writ large feels safe and secure. There is this expectation that tomorrow things could get worse. You don't know what policies or decisions could impact your discipline, your institution, or your specific lab."

Self-Censorship & Political Meddling in Grant-Making

Researchers at universities are walking a "blade-thin line" in their language, with some tempering grant proposals to avoid politically flagged terms. One researcher said: "What's really clear is: do not write words like 'environmental justice' into your grant. Do not write 'minorities,' or 'underserved.'" One researcher who spoke to reporters shared they no longer record team meetings in anticipation of increased scrutiny.

Congress added new protections against political influence in the 2026 appropriations bill, and blocked the administration from making sweeping cuts to indirect costs. But for many scientists, the bill is doing little to repair the distrust sown since Trump's return to office.

Anti-Science Legislation in State Legislatures

An Associated Press investigation found that more than 420 "anti-science" bills were introduced in statehouses last year, targeting protections around public health issues like vaccines, milk safety, and fluoride. Experts expected this trend to continue - or accelerate - into 2026.

The volume of legislation targeting vaccines, public health authority, and evidence-based safeguards has not slowed. As measles surges and vaccination rates fall below critical thresholds in some communities, lawmakers are advancing bills that weaken school immunization requirements and constrain public health responses to outbreaks

Most enacted bills were supported by at least one of four national groups connected to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.: MAHA Action, Stand for Health Freedom, the National Vaccine Information Center, and the Weston A. Price Foundation - reflecting what analysts describe as a well-organized, strategic effort to shift national policy.

Declining Global Trust in Science

A report published just yesterday (March 25) found that trust in science is facing growing challenges in many countries, with public confidence shifting due to misinformation, political polarization, and communication failures. Over 60% of Americans encounter false scientific claims weekly, and Republicans report 15% lower trust in scientists compared to Democrats on topics like COVID-19 vaccines and climate science.

Science communication struggles to keep pace with the speed of social media, where complex findings are often oversimplified or distorted. Social media algorithms on platforms like Facebook and YouTube amplify misleading claims, while influencers with millions of followers can spread vaccine or climate misinformation to wide audiences.

Key Takeaway

The anti-science landscape right now has two distinct but reinforcing tracks: institutional (federal funding freezes, political screening of grants, workforce exodus from agencies) and cultural (state-level legislation, vaccine skepticism, declining public trust). Congress has served as a partial firewall on funding, but the administration has found other levers - OMB holds, ideological grant reviews, and staff attrition - to reshape what science gets done. The researcher community, as of this week, describes a "cautious thaw" but deep, lasting uncertainty.