The consequences of Trump’s decision to reduce financing shake the universities of Australia

A number of major universities in Australia announced today, Thursday, that the administration of US President Donald Trump reduced funding for some of its researchers, and asked others to receive financial support from the US government to prove that their work is in line with the country’s interests.

The Group of Eight – an alliance that includes the most prominent universities that pay attention to research work in Australia – warned that this procedure may endanger research in vital medical and defense fields in the country.

Universities said that some researchers receiving financing from American federal agencies were asked to assess the extent of compliance with President Trump’s agenda in a 36 -point questionnaire.

The group added that the questionnaire included questions about the diversity, equality and inclusion programs that the Trump administration is seeking to end.

“We are very concerned about the broader repercussions of the Trump administration policy, not only for the future of health and medical research, but with regard to defense cooperation in particular,” said Fikki Thomson CEO of the eight group Vicky Thompson in a statement.

The statement stated that the eight group requested the intervention of the Australian government.

A spokesman for the American embassy in Canberra declined to comment, and the Australian Ministry of Education has not yet responded to the request for comment.

The Group of Eight Universities implement 70 % of the total university research in Australia, and the United States is its largest international research partner.

These universities combined obtained about $ 161.6 million in the form of grants from the National Health Institutes in the United States between 2020 and 2024.