Massachusetts governor says Trump's policies are harmful to science

Source: Politico

04/20/2025 04:30 PM EDT


Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey on Sunday said the Trump administration’s “bad for science” policies will send America’s researchers into the arms of China and other nations.

Addressing the administration’s ongoing battle with Harvard University and its cuts to scientific and medical research, the Massachusetts Democrat said on CBS’ “Face the Nation”: “Research labs are shutting down, scientists and researchers are leaving the United States and going to other countries to do their work. And essentially, Donald Trump is giving away intellectual assets.”

Speaking to guest host Weijia Jiang, Healey said that President Donald Trump is damaging the nation’s status as the world leader in scientific research. “As governor, I want Massachusetts soaring,” she said. “I want America soaring. And what Donald Trump is doing is basically saying to China and other ... countries, come to the United States, take our scientists, take our researchers and that, and that’s what’s happening.”

Though the interview also dealt with significant cuts to the National Institutes for Health and other institutions, there was specific discussion of Harvard’s statement last week that it would not bow to the administration’s demands to change its policies in order to continue to receive federal funding. “No government — regardless of which party is in power — should dictate what private universities can teach, whom they can admit and hire, and which areas of study and inquiry they can pursue,” Harvard President Alan Garber said.

Read more: https://www.politico.com/news/2025/04/20/maura-healey-harvard-science-trump-00300550