The Trump administration is corrupt, incompetent and breaking the law. There is plenty of data and evidence to back up this fact—but there’s so much going on that it takes diligent effort to monitor it all. Here at UCS we are tracking the attacks on science, working with supporters and partners to pressure congress to protect science, and calling out the attempts to further weaken our democracy.
It’s a big job, but fortunately we’re not alone. Organizations and scholars are working across the country to confront this rising authoritarianism, and working to provide the public with facts and timely updates to keep us informed. Today, I’ll highlight a few resources you may find useful. As with any information, you must do your own due diligence—to understand the source, methodology, and reliability. But these are a few trustworthy places to start.
Attacks on public health: the assault on NIH
The Science & Community Impacts Mapping Project (SCIMaP)
What: A view of the impacts of NIH federal health research cuts
Who: Researchers from the University of Maryland, College Park, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Utah, the Georgia Institute of Technology, and University of Oregon.
How: Interactive, data-driven visualizations allows you to view data down to the county level on how cuts to science have impacted local economies and jobs.
Plus: Includes an interactive quiz and resources to contact congress.
What: Estimates of NIH funding that will be lost in different Congressional districts.
Who: A nonpartisan grassroots initiative
How: Interactive map that shows NIH grants cuts and research organized by Congressional district.
NIH Grant Terminations in 2025
What: A running list of terminated NIH grants.
Who: Researchers at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and members of r/OpenSci on Reddit.
How: Interactive table with detailed information on NIH grants that have been terminated, including reason for termination, such as the specific banned words.
Plus: Includes phone numbers for Congressional representatives.
Illegal actions by Musk’s DOGE
What: An online spreadsheet of actions by the so-called “Department of Government Efficiency.”
Who: Center for Progressive Reform
How: This tool “catalogues the numerous legal infirmities that underlie both DOGE as an institution and the specific actions it is carrying out.”
Plus: Includes background materials related to legal challenges and strategies to respond to DOGE’s actions.
What: A frequently-updated web page tracking the administration’s actions and personnel.
Who: Revolving Door Project
How: Evaluates the administration’s actions along multiple dimensions, including corruption of presidential power, DOGE staff and activities, and the consequences for people across the U.S.
The Courts
What: Searchable online database of legal challenges to the Trump administration.
Who: Just Security, a daily digital law and policy journal
How: A detailed, comprehensive look at different cases and their status as they move through the courts.
Keep up with UCS
Defending science requires a concerted effort. Here are a couple of things you can do if you’re looking for ways to help:
Stay informed with The Equation: At the UCS blog, our team of scientists and experts will be posting regularly, covering democracy, climate, transportation, water, and more.
Take action and demand NIH uphold transparency and scientific independence.