Mass Gov. Healey: Trump’s cuts are ‘bad for science’ (2025)

President Donald Trump’s “bad for science” policies amount to a giveaway that will send researchers and scientific breakthroughs to China and other nations, Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey said Sunday.

Addressing the Republican White House’s attacks on Harvard University and its cuts to public health funding, Healey said the policies are shutting down research labs and sending U.S. scientists overseas.

“These cuts to universities have significant ripple effects, because they result in people being laid off, scientists being laid off, doctors being laid off, clinical trials for things like cancer treatments have been shut down, and this is really bad,” Healey said during an appearance on CBS News’ “Face the Nation” program on Sunday,

“It’s bad for patients, it’s bad for science, and it’s really bad for American competitiveness,” Healey continued. “As governor, I want Massachusetts to soar. I want America soaring. And what Donald Trump is doing is basically saying to China and other ... countries, come to the United States, take — take our scientists, take our researchers, and ... that’s what’s happening."

Over the weekend, it emerged that the White House planned to slash another $1 billion in federal funding from Harvard amid its ongoing clash with the institution over accusations of antisemitism that has already led to the freezing of $2.2 billion in federal funds.

The news was first reported by The Wall Street Journal, which cited people familiar with the matter. The additional $1 billion would be taken from the university’s funds for health research, the paper reported.

Donations to Harvard have spiked as the university has dug in against withering public criticism from Trump on his social media network. Published reports also indicated that the demand letter that sparked the clash also was sent prematurely.

Speaking to CBS News on Sunday, Healey accused Trump of “giving away intellectual assets.”

“I was in a hospital here just the other week, and this is a hospital, Boston Children’s, where some of the sickest kids in the country go for care,” Healey told CBS anchor Weijia Jiang.

“And there have been cuts to Boston Children’s and other hospitals as a result of Donald Trump’s actions, because these are part of a teaching hospital system,” Healey continued. “These cuts to universities have significant ripple effects, because they result in people being laid off, scientists being laid off, doctors being laid off, clinical trials for things like cancer treatments have been shut down.”

Healey told Jiang the cuts from Washington, which the state can’t make up its own, are leaving few areas of public life untouched.

“The cuts that Donald Trump has made to education, to health care, food for kids, heating assistance for seniors. He just cut off FEMA disaster relief for our states the other day, and as governor, I’m going to do everything I can to protect my residents, to protect our state, to protect our economy, but he makes it really difficult,” she said.

Trump’s trade war with Canada and Mexico also has impacted efforts to address the state’s ongoing housing crisis, Healey told Jiang.

“I want to build more housing so that we can drive down costs. Donald Trump comes in with tariffs. Where do we get our lumber from? Canada. Where do we get other building materials from? Mexico,” Healey said.

“He’s just made everything more expensive and more difficult, and states will do the best they can. Governors like myself will do the best that we can, but there’s no way that states can begin to make up for, or course correct these failings by the president of the United States and his administration when it comes to managing the economy,” Healey said.

During an appearance on WBZ-TV’s “Keller @Large” programIt’s state policy that’s driving the affordability agenda on Sunday, Republican gubernatorial hopeful Mike Kennealy said the buck stops with Healey when it comes to the state’s affordability challenges.

“It’s state policy that’s driving the affordability agenda,” Kennealy, who was former Republican Gov. Charlie Baker’s economic development and housing czar, said.

And in a post to his Truth Social network, Trump on Sunday defended the White House’s trade policies.

“Since our announcement of LIBERATION DAY, many World Leaders and Business Executives have come to me asking for relief from Tariffs,” he wrote. “It’s good to see that the World knows we are serious, because WE ARE! They must right the wrongs of decades of abuse, but it won’t be easy for them. We must rebuild the Wealth of our Great Country, and create true RECIPROCITY. But for those who want the easiest path: Come to America, and build in America!”