French Universities Open Doors to US Climate Scientists as Trump Slashes Research Funding

A wave of funding cuts and political interference under President Trump’s second term is driving American scientists—especially those in climate and health research—out of the United States. In response, French research institutions are stepping up, with officials encouraging universities to provide a safe haven for researchers who feel under threat.

According to Agence France-Presse (AFP), France’s Minister for Higher Education and Research, Philippe Baptiste, has urged national institutions to submit proposals to welcome displaced American researchers, especially those focused on climate science and other high-priority fields. “We would naturally wish to welcome a certain number of them,” he stated in a letter to research leaders, adding that the French government is “committed” to supporting these efforts.

Aix-Marseille University in southern France has already launched a new program to host US scientists “who may feel threatened or hindered” and want to continue their work in a space that champions “innovation, excellence and academic freedom.” This comes amid mounting protests in U.S. cities from researchers alarmed by the White House’s budget cuts and politicization of science. Similar solidarity demonstrations took place in France, notably in Toulouse.

French Nobel laureates Esther Duflo and Anne L’Huillier voiced their concerns in Le Monde, condemning what they call “unprecedented attacks” on science—warning that democracy itself is at risk. Yasmine Belkaid, director of France’s Pasteur Institute, confirmed to La Tribune that she receives “calls every day” from U.S.-based scientists seeking opportunities abroad.

With US institutions like the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and key health agencies losing vital personnel, the global scientific community is watching closely. France, it seems, is ready to step in.

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