Comment on Trump Budget Numbers Released Thursday, March 16, 2017

If this budget or anything close to it were enacted into law, the result would be a severe setback for international relations and America's standing in the world; for clean air and water for Americans: for progress in conquering cancer, influenza, and Alzheimer's; for the fight against human-caused climate change; for U.S. leadership in science and technology; for culture and the arts; and, yes, for American business, which depends on government services far more heavily than is generally recognized.  It can only be hoped that this misguided budget will be resoundingly rejected by Congress on a bipartisan basis.

John P. Holdren, Ph.D.

Teresa and John Heinz Professor of Environmental Policy, Harvard Kennedy School of Government

Senior Advisor to the President, The Woods Hole Research Center

Formerly President Obama’s Science Advisor and Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (January 2009 – January 2017)

Statements and views expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author and do not imply endorsement by Harvard University, the Harvard Kennedy School, or the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs.