Source: Ludwig von Mises Institute
by Lipton Matthews
“Donald Trump has been criticized heavily for cutting federal funding of science. Opponents claim that his decision threatens to undermine American innovation, weaken the nation’s economy, and diminish its global influence. Yet the assumption behind these complaints is rarely examined. It is taken for granted that the government must play a central role in supporting science if society is to progress. A closer inspection of historical experience, economic reasoning, and the actual dynamics of research reveals that this assumption is false. Innovation has flourished without state patronage, and government support often politicizes science, crowds out private initiative, and undermines the very progress it is supposed to promote.” (10/20/25)