The Trump administration’s policies have left a significant mark on the scientific community, with numerous individuals facing disruptions to their careers and health services. In 2025, interviews conducted by STAT revealed the profound impact of funding cuts, grant terminations, and layoffs on scientists, patients, and university staff. These personal accounts highlight the ongoing struggles and resilience of those affected by these changes.
Personal Stories of Resilience and Change
Karen Hollitt, a former employee of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), experienced a return of her PTSD symptoms leading up to her termination on April 1, 2025. A veteran of the Air Force, Hollitt had previously overcome significant trauma. The loss of her job reignited old fears, but she later secured a position as a trainer for a credit union that supports military families. Although her new salary is nearly half of what she earned at the FDA, Hollitt expressed gratitude for her new workplace and the opportunity to assist military personnel and their families. Of the eight colleagues she worked with at the FDA, only she and one other have managed to find employment since the layoffs.
Scott Delaney, a trained lawyer and epidemiologist formerly associated with Harvard, faced a similar fate. The abrupt termination of research projects at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) prompted him to document these losses for historical and legal purposes. Though a judge later overturned some of the terminations at Harvard, Delaney chose to resign to concentrate on Grant Witness, a database he co-developed to track canceled NIH grants. With private funding secured, he has launched a consulting business focusing on environmental health disparities. Delaney remains committed to advocating for science and public health, emphasizing the ongoing threats facing these fields.
Healthcare Challenges and Personal Loss
Brooke Kajdy, a 24-year-old mother battling stage 4 diffuse large B cell lymphoma, embodies the struggle against not only her illness but also bureaucratic delays in treatment. Initially expected to receive an experimental therapy through an NIH clinical trial, Kajdy faced setbacks due to administrative changes linked to the former administration’s policies. Ultimately, her physician in Alberta, Canada, managed to obtain the necessary drugs off-label. Unfortunately, despite initial positive responses to treatment, Kajdy’s condition deteriorated. After exploring treatment options in the United States, Mexico, and Germany, she succumbed to her illness on September 19, 2025. Her husband, Gabe, recounted her unwavering spirit, stating, “She loved her kids and family more than anything, and even in her last couple of days, she smiled and never accepted defeat.”
Andrew Read, senior vice president for research at Pennsylvania State University, continues to navigate a landscape marked by uncertainty. He has expressed frustration over the unclear vision for American science under the Trump administration. The ongoing threat of cuts to research funding has led to a hiring freeze and stalled investments in emerging technologies such as quantum computing. However, Read noted a slight increase in NIH funding for his university, rising from $165 million to $182 million between the 2024 and 2025 fiscal years.
Dr. Josh Fessel, who led initiatives to translate research into treatments at the NIH, resigned from his position early in the second Trump administration due to moral objections to grant cancellations and colleague dismissals. He described the current job market as the most challenging he has ever encountered. Although he initially aimed to transition into the pharmaceutical industry, he has broadened his job search and is seeking roles that will allow him to contribute effectively to future endeavors at the NIH.
Sam Degregori, a postdoctoral researcher, encountered significant obstacles when the NIH terminated his funding program earlier in the year. The Institutional Research and Academic Career Development Awards (IRACDA) program was designed to support the career development of postdocs. Following the cuts, Degregori has been actively applying for fellowships and recently secured a Hartwell Foundation Fellowship to sustain his research for the next two years. Despite the intense competition for faculty positions, he remains optimistic and feels a renewed sense of purpose in his work, stating, “I feel this new energy like, by doing my job I’m fighting back somehow.”
The accounts of these individuals illustrate the far-reaching consequences of policy changes on the scientific community and highlight the resilience of those who continue to advocate for research, health, and progress in a challenging environment.
