By Liam Mannix and Hannah Kennelly
Researchers at the CSIRO have been sent a Trump administration survey demanding they answer questions on diversity, gender ideology and whether they are studying “climate justice”, as the Australian government scrambles to respond to US attacks on scientific funding.
Two researchers working on American-funded projects have received the 36-point survey from the US government, this masthead can reveal, joining those at seven Australian universities sent the probing questionnaire.
At least one university research project has already had US funding pulled, sparking calls for an urgent review of Australia’s exposure to any further cuts.
The United States is a major funder of Australian research and provides key scientific infrastructure such as satellite data, cyclone warnings, earthquake monitoring and virus surveillance.
Australia received about $386 million in US research funding in 2024, the Academy of Science estimates. In comparison, the federal government spends about $1 billion a year on health research via the National Health and Medical Research Council.
The CSIRO has not yet responded to the surveys, but is reviewing all its US-funded research. The US was one of its largest international funding partners, the agency confirmed.
“As the situation is still developing, it would be premature to speculate on how the changes in the US will affect CSIRO’s US collaborations and partnerships. However, CSIRO has not received formal advice that our science collaborations will be impacted,” a CSIRO spokesman said.
The CSIRO Staff Association demanded management “take all means necessary to protect the integrity and sustainability of the many joint projects undertaken in partnership”.
“We are also calling CSIRO management to ensure the wellbeing and security of staff who may feel directly targeted by the Trump administration’s attack on workplace diversity,” said spokeswoman Susan Tonks.
But the fears of the science community prompted by the actions of the Trump administration – which wants to freeze billions of dollars in research funding – is leading key figures to call for a realignment of Australia’s scientific strategy.
“The narrative of partnering with those who share our values is no longer workable,” said Anna-Maria Arabia, CEO of the Australian Academy of Science.
“If you were running a business and a significant source of revenue was vulnerable, you would immediately assess your exposure risk.
“Australia must assess and manage risks, so we are not over-reliant on one strategic partner, and so we are poised and ready to face an uncertain future.”
Former ANU vice chancellor Professor Brian Schmidt.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
Australian Nobel laureate Brian Schmidt, until last year Australian National University vice chancellor, said decades of declining government investment in research had made the country hugely reliant on the US.
“This is coming home to roost now,” he said. “When you make yourself beholden to your sugar daddy, and your sugar daddy says they want something else, you don’t have a choice.”
The Trump administration has launched what scientific journal Nature called “an unprecedented assault on science”, cancelling or freezing tens of billions of dollars of funding and instituting an “Orwellian” ban on research that might “promote gender ideology”.
Protesters at a Stand up for Science rally in Chicago.Credit: AP
As part of that effort, scientists around the world receiving US research funding have received surveys asking whether their studies contain “DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) elements”, are related to the climate crisis, and whether they “defend against gender ideology”.
Some US researchers who have answered the questionnaire have had their funding reinstated, while others who refused were warned in a letter from the White House it was “a waste of taxpayer dollars that does not improve the day-to-day lives of those we serve” to continue funding such projects.
The Australian Academy of Science has been calling for an urgent response from the federal government, including an emergency meeting of the National Science and Technology Council.
Government research funding as a percentage of GDP has been declining steadily since 2009, making Australia increasingly reliant on overseas funding.
“It’s an illusion to think we can rely on other people’s research or their research funding. If we want the benefits of being a knowledge economy, we have to make grown-up decisions,” said Professor Merlin Crossley, deputy vice chancellor of academic quality at the University of NSW.
America also plays a key role in the global development of the flu vaccine, contributing virus surveillance and genetic material to allow researchers to keep the jab up to date.
“We know it’s potentially under threat. If we can’t monitor it through the systems we’ve set up in America, maybe we need to monitor it through other mechanisms,” said Dr Rod Pearce, chair of the Immunisation Coalition.
On Monday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese batted aside a question about the survey: “My focus is on what happens here in Australia, and what happens in tomorrow’s budget.”
Opposition spokeswoman for science Claire Chandler said the government must “explain what information it has about the Trump administration’s request and what guidance it intends to provide to survey recipients”.
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