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Trump Announces $100 Million Push to Train American Scientists
The Trump administration says it will spend more than $100 million to help train American scientists.
Some of the money will support people studying science and engineering for PhD degrees.
The plan also brings back a National Science Foundation program for young researchers.
The administration says the support can help the United States stay strong in science and artificial intelligence.
This comes as fewer students are being admitted to PhD programs and international students face new restrictions.
The White House also says the Department of Energy will get access to computing resources worth $100 million.
President Trump is expected to announce the plans at a White House summit and present awards to technology leaders.
The Trump administration plans to invest more than $100 million in programs training American STEM researchers, including fellowships for science and engineering PhD students.
The initiative will revive the National Science Foundation’s Young Scholars program, with $30 million in government funding and another $50 million from sources including Jane Street.
The announcement comes as doctoral admissions decline and international students—nearly 40% of science and engineering PhD students in 2024—face tighter policies.
The administration says the effort will strengthen US scientific and AI research capacity amid competition with China.
The White House also says the Department of Energy will receive access to $100 million in compute credits through a private donation, and Trump will recognize technology leaders at the summit.
- Who
- The Trump administration, including President Donald Trump and White House science director Michael Kratsios.
- What
- A planned investment of more than $100 million in programs to train American STEM researchers, alongside other science and technology announcements.
- Where
- The White House, United States.
- When
- At a White House summit scheduled for Thursday; the article does not give a calendar date.
- Why
- The administration says the programs will strengthen American scientific research and help the United States remain a leader in discovery and compete in AI.
Administration’s stated case
Concerns described in the article
Building a domestic research workforce
Administration’s stated case
The administration says fellowships and the revived Young Scholars program will empower American STEM students and help the United States lead in scientific discovery.
Concerns described in the article
The article notes that international students made up nearly 40% of science and engineering PhD students in 2024, and that new restrictions on international candidates could further constrain the pipeline of researchers.
Research funding and capacity
Administration’s stated case
The administration presents the investment and new compute-credit access as ways to expand scientific and AI research capacity.
Concerns described in the article
The article reports that federal research funding has faced cuts and uncertainty, including declines at MIT and Johns Hopkins, and that the administration has attempted to cut funding to NSF and NIH.
Key facts
- Planned STEM investment
- More than $100 million
- Young Scholars program
- Revival includes $30 million in government funding and an additional $50 million from sources including Jane Street
- PhD admissions
- Admissions to PhD programs fell 15% from the previous year
- International STEM PhD students
- Nearly 40% of science and engineering PhD students in 2024
- Department of Energy compute credits
- $100 million in access, enabled by a private donation
- STEM PhD employees leaving federal government
- More than 10,000 in the first year of the Trump administration, including roughly 1,100 at NIH
- Foreign student visa proposal
- DHS proposed a $70,000 charge for a postgraduate work visa and an additional $30,000 for a STEM extension
Quotes
Michael Kratsios
Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy
“The Trump Administration is committed to empowering American STEM students and enabling them to pursue opportunities at the frontier of science and technology”
NDTV
“help to ensure America keeps leading the world in discovery.”
NDTV
Sources
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