Under Trump’s rule, NSF is rejecting research papers for using words like ‘women’ and ‘diversity’

Donald Trump

Under Donald Trump’s rule, science will not be just about facts anymore, it will also be about avoiding ‘wrong words’. The US government is cracking down on terms like "women," "diversity," and "equity" in research papers. The National Science Foundation (NSF), which gives billions in funding, is now checking applications for these “problematic” words, according to a report published in The Washington

If your research piece mentions them, it could be rejected or forced to change. Scientists have also been told to stop organizing workshops or programs that focus on diversity and inclusion.

And it’s not just NSF. Other agencies, like the CDC, have started deleting anything that acknowledges gender isn’t strictly male or female. For example, a case study on endometriosis was deleted because it mentioned that transgender people can have the condition.

This has made the scientists extremely worried because research is usually judged by experts, not politics. But now, ideology is deciding what gets funded. Many fear this will slow down progress, especially for studies that help minority groups. But as long as the paperwork looks "correct," who needs innovation?

NSF funds research in space, medicine, and technology. It also requires projects to have a positive impact on society—something that often includes diversity. But now, those "broader impacts" may need to be a little… smaller.

If a research project violates Trump’s orders, it could be edited or even canceled. Scientists call this an attack on academic freedom.