it is not about saving money

posted on Feb 27, 2025

danny caballero

This post does not represent the view of my employer, the National Science Foundation, or any other organization with which I am affiliated. This is my view alone.

After learning that our Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program was being cut, I was pretty angry.

WE JUST GOT DOGE’D no funding for this year. We have to cancel the program and email 450 applicants there will be no REU program in physics at MSU. First time in 20+ years. I’m fucking livid, y’all.

— Danny Caballero 🇲🇽💚🤍 (@physicistdanny.bsky.social) 2025-02-26T19:54:00.337Z

Let’s be clear, President Trump, Elon Musk, and their enablers are not interested in saving money. Their goals have been made very clear. They intend to slash funding across the board regardless of who it harms, and they are doubling down with the House’s recent vote to advance a Draconian spending bill. This bill slashes support for all public programs including Medicaid.

My family has used and continues to use this program. And you know what, they also work, Mr. Speaker. They work hard, and they pay taxes.

This bill will raise taxes on every American except the wealthy. Here’s a graph from the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy showing the impact of the bill on different income groups.

Tax cuts for the wealthy; more taxes on working families and individuals

The plan is not about saving money; it’s about cutting taxes for the wealthy and slashing funding for programs that help anyone other than Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and their friends.

We knew this, we voted for this, and we are going to pay for it.

what does this have to do with an reu?

The REU program provides funding and support for undergraduate students to conduct research in a variety of fields. Ours is a physics and astronomy program where we invited 10-15 students each summer to work with faculty and graduate students on research projects. The program has funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) continuously for 20+ years. The lead PI has changed over the years, but the program has been a staple of our department.

The most recent iterations of the program worked hard to broaden participation in physics and astronomy. Our program focused on identifying students who would normally not have access to research opportunities. While this often meant recruiting students from underrepresented groups, it also meant recruiting students from schools that do not have much research activity in their physics or astronomy program. The benefit of a large research university is that we have a lot of research activity and many faculty and graduate students who are willing to mentor students.

Students who have participated in this program go on to do many things. Some go on to graduate school, some go on to work in industry, and some go on to work in education. The program has been a great success. In fact, I found out that one of students who participated in the program in the 1990s is a decorated researcher and science communicator in the field of astronomy.

I was an MSU physics REU student in the 90s. These experiences led to careers.

— Dr Pamela L Gay (@starstryder.space) 2025-02-27T01:00:41.473Z

Shout out to Pamela Gay. I’m so glad my department was able to support you in your career.

My point is that REU programs like ours and others across the country are important for the future of our field. They provide opportunities for students to conduct research, learn about the scientific process, and develop skills that will help them in their careers. They launch students into the next phase of their lives. Students make connections with faculty, staff, graduate students, and other undergraduate students. Some of these connections last a lifetime, and some lead to jobs opportunities. The impact of these programs is both easily measured and immeasurable.

why does this matter?

I’m not going to pretend that I know what the future holds. I don’t.

But, this “Move Fast and Break Things” mentality is not new. It is a hallmark of the tech industry, and it is now the approach of the current administration.

If we continue to see cuts to programs like the REU, we will see a decline in the number of students who are able to participate in research opportunities. This will have a negative impact on the future of science and technology in the United States. The hands-on one-on-one mentoring that occurs in these programs is invaluable. It is not simply about research training, it is about mentoring, building relationships, and building a community.

While not my preferred framing, if you care about “global competitiveness” and “innovation”, then you should care about these programs and that they are being cut. They are where we grow the next generation of scientists and engineers. They are where we bring students who have not had access to research opportunities into the field. They are a critical space where we build the future of science and technology in the United States.

why is the happening?

Buckle up, buttercups. We are putting on out tin foils hats.

Yes, that's better, meow.

The current administration is not interested in saving money. They want to take our tax money and give it to the wealthy. This includes corporations that play nice with them and their friends.

For Christ’s sake, we are taking about an administration that has advanced the idea of a fucking Gold Card for wealthy immigrants.

How nice that Russian oligarchs can now buy their way into the United States by hiding their stolen wealth in US banks and real estate.

Cool shit, y’all.

There is so much going on, but I do believe the end game is privatization. It is the planned destruction of public healthcare, public schools, public lands, and, honestly, anything designed for the public good.

Private schools. Private colleges. Private healthcare. Private lands. Private police. Private research.

Privatization is inherently inequitable and that is the goal. To be able to select who wins and who loses is what they want because their feeble and atrophied minds can only think in terms of a scoreboard and the USA must win. And by the USA, they only mean themselves and their rich friends.

We are losing, you fucking losers. Get bent.

Sorry, this was an angry post, but here’s some better posts with actions we can take.

• Writing your congressperson
• Avoiding distraction and doing the hard work
• We need an organizer mentality
• Doing BIG PUBLIC SHIT

Also shoutout to our program officer at NSF who has been the best person we could have hoped for in this moment. Stay strong!