For decades, the United States has been a global leader in scientific and engineering research. However, the Trump administration’s cuts to federal funding for scientific research—particularly climate research—come at a time when the damage from floods, droughts, fires, and severe storms is intensifying, and local public pressure for infrastructure adaptation to these weather threats is growing. In this piece for Michigan Today, Ricky Rood, a professor in the Department of Climate and Space Sciences and Engineering, discusses how to navigate political hostility to research and emphasizes the importance of continuing these efforts despite the lack of federal support.
