President Trump cuts millions in taxpayer funding to publishing giant Springer Nature over its spreading of “gender insanity” and concerning ties to Communist China.
Key Takeaways
- The Trump administration has terminated funding contracts worth millions of dollars with scientific publisher Springer Nature, citing political bias and foreign influence concerns.
- Springer Nature has been accused of censoring content at the behest of the Chinese Communist Party and publishing over 2,900 retracted papers in 2024 alone.
- Scientific American, a Springer Nature publication, endorsed Kamala Harris during the 2024 election and has been criticized for promoting leftist ideology in scientific publishing.
- While non-essential contracts were cut, the administration maintained “mission essential” funding for National Institutes of Health and cancer research publications.
- Donald Trump Jr. celebrated the move, declaring “No more taxpayer money for woke publishers!”
Trump Administration Defunds “Woke” Scientific Publisher
The Trump administration has terminated multiple federal contracts with Springer Nature, one of the world’s largest scientific publishers, citing concerns about political bias and undue foreign influence. The publisher, which produces prestigious titles including Nature journals and Scientific American, held 19 active contracts with federal agencies including a $5.2 million agreement for journal subscriptions. The cuts represent a significant financial blow to the company and signal the administration’s commitment to preventing taxpayer dollars from supporting organizations perceived as promoting leftist ideology under the guise of scientific research.
“All contracts with Springer Nature are terminated or no longer active. Precious taxpayer dollars should not be used on unused subscriptions to junk science,” stated an HHS spokesperson.
The decision follows a series of controversies surrounding Springer Nature’s editorial practices. The publisher received a letter from the Department of Justice questioning its relationship with China and suggesting censorship at the behest of the Chinese Communist Party. Additionally, Springer Nature has faced widespread criticism for its peer-review process after being forced to retract 2,923 papers in 2024 alone, raising serious questions about quality control and scientific integrity within its publications.
China Connections and COVID-19 Lab Leak Theory
One of the most troubling allegations against Springer Nature involves its alleged suppression of the COVID-19 lab-leak theory to appease Chinese interests. The publisher’s “Nature Medicine” journal was implicated in a controversy over a 2020 report dismissing the lab-leak theory, which was later cited in a 2023 congressional report. Former NIAID director Dr. Anthony Fauci was suggested to have influenced the publication of this report, though he denied direct involvement. This apparent willingness to suppress scientific inquiry into COVID’s origins for political reasons raised red flags within the Trump administration.
“We are proud of our track record in communicating U.S. research to the rest of the world for over a century and continue to have good relationships with U.S. federal agencies,” said a spokesperson for Springer Nature.
Further concerning the administration, in 2017, Springer Nature was reported to have blocked access to academic research in China to comply with Chinese government censorship demands. This apparent willingness to compromise academic freedom for market access demonstrated concerning priorities for a scientific publisher that was receiving millions in American taxpayer funding. Despite these controversies, the publisher maintains that there is “no material change” to its customer relationships or revenue.
Political Endorsements and “Woke” Science
The Trump administration’s decision also appears motivated by the increasingly political stance of Springer Nature publications, particularly Scientific American. The magazine endorsed Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election, marking only its second endorsement in its long history. Following the George Floyd protests, the company publicly committed to addressing what it termed “systemic racism” in research, embracing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives that many conservatives view as ideologically driven rather than scientifically grounded.
“No more taxpayer money for woke publishers!” declared Donald Trump Jr., who had advocated for ending contracts with Springer Nature after accusing it of promoting “gender insanity.”
The administration’s stance has been reinforced by incidents such as the resignation of Laura Helmuth, former editor of Scientific American, after she made derogatory comments about Trump supporters on social media. While critics argue these cuts could harm American scientific research, the administration has maintained funding for what it considers “mission essential” contracts, including those with the National Institutes of Health and for cancer research publications, demonstrating a targeted approach rather than blanket defunding of scientific literature.
