Election Day is less than three weeks away. Science and politics are intricately linked. On the one hand, scientific discovery and research offer policy-makers evidence-backed insight needed to decide the best courses of action, at local and federal levels. And in turn, politicians and lawmakers impact science. The executive and legislative branches determine budgetary allotments for billions of dollars in medical research and technological innovation for the energy sector, military tools, health care, food security, national infrastructure, and education. Who we vote for matters because they will be guiding the nation's policies and how our tax dollars are spent.
Donald Trump and Kamala Harris represent very different futures when it comes to science-related policy issues.
Scientific American has rounded up the candidates' stances on some of the most important areas. I highlight a few below, and I encourage you to
read the entire collection, which our editors have filled with robust data and expert commentary.
Some readers may wonder if a science publication has the "right" to weigh in on political matters. If so, I invite you to read the top paragraph again. And by the way,
Scientific American has a long history of commenting on political policy. In the 1950s we published an article that was critical of the development of the hydrogen bomb. When the federal Atomic Energy Commission learned about the article, agents stormed our offices and
burned all 3,000 copies of the issue that contained the article. I'm serious.
Climate and environment: Harris would continue the Biden administration's
landmark climate efforts, chiefly the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), for which Harris cast the tie-breaking vote. In his first term Trump rolled back more than 200 environmental regulations and has said that climate change is "not our problem." His administration would return the country to more oil and gas production. | 6 min read
AI innovation and regulation: Both candidates want the U.S. to lead the way in
AI technology development. Harris supports the creation of the U.S. AI Safety Institute within the National Institute of Standards and Technology to help guard against misinformation and deepfakes. Trump issued two executive orders during his first term to foster innovation in AI, and he would likely make that the focus of his next term, rather than creating safeguards around the technology. | 6 min read
Immigration and STEM workers: The U.S. has
a dire need for STEM workers. Both candidates would likely impose stronger border policies that restrict illegal immigration. At the same time both have voiced support for new measures to promote legal immigration (ideally many would take up jobs in science and technology), though Trump uses strong anti-immigrant rhetoric and has said he would deport millions. | 6 min read
More on how the election will shape future policies:
How a Harris or Trump Presidency Could Affect
Gun Policy | 7 min read
The presidential candidates have vastly divergent records on and plans for protecting access to
reproductive health care, including abortion and IVF. | 5 min read
Whoever wins the 2024 presidential election will face
heightened nuclear geopolitics, deadlines on nuclear deals with Russia and Iran, and decisions on a $2-trillion weapons-modernization effort. | 5 min read
