Trump Governance Silenced Researcher Studying Climate Change’s Impact on Children
A scientist whose research focused on the detrimental health effects of climate change on children had her funding abruptly terminated by the Trump administration,according to documents and interviews,raising concerns about the politicization of scientific research during a period of escalating environmental threats. Dr. Frederica perera, a professor of environmental health sciences at Columbia University, saw a $7.4 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) cut short in 2017, halting a decade-long study examining the links between prenatal exposure to pollutants and cognitive development in children.
the termination of Perera’s research, part of a larger pattern of the Trump administration downplaying or dismissing climate science, underscores a growing threat to self-reliant research and the ability to understand and address the disproportionate impact of environmental hazards on vulnerable populations. With global temperatures continuing to rise and extreme weather events becoming more frequent, understanding the specific risks to children’s health is increasingly critical, yet the administration’s actions signaled a intentional effort to limit such investigations.
Perera’s research centered on the Children’s Environmental Health Study, which followed a cohort of mothers and children in New York city and Poland, tracking their exposure to air pollution and other environmental toxins. The study revealed a strong correlation between prenatal exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) – pollutants released from burning fossil fuels – and lower IQ scores and behavioral problems in children.
“We were making critically importent progress in understanding how early-life exposures can affect brain development and long-term health,” Perera stated. “To have that work stopped so abruptly was deeply frustrating and concerning.”
The NIH cited “budgetary constraints” as the reason for the grant’s termination,but Perera and her colleagues believe the decision was politically motivated. Documents obtained through Freedom of Information Act requests revealed internal discussions within the NIH about the potential political sensitivity of the research, especially it’s focus on the negative health impacts of pollution.
The Trump administration consistently sought to roll back environmental regulations and promote the fossil fuel industry, often dismissing scientific evidence of climate change. The silencing of Perera’s research fits into this broader pattern, raising questions about the integrity of scientific funding and the independence of researchers.
The interruption of Perera’s study has had lasting consequences,leaving a gap in our understanding of the complex relationship between environmental pollution and child development. While Perera has since secured funding from other sources to continue some aspects of her work, the lost years represent a setback in efforts to protect children from the health risks of climate change. As the climate crisis intensifies, advocates warn that further politicization of scientific research could have devastating consequences for future generations.
