Krishnamoorthi Responds to CCP’s Fourth Plenum, Warning Trump’s Cuts to Science and Research Undermine America’s Competitive Edge
WASHINGTON – Following the conclusion of the Chinese Communist Party’s Fourth Plenum and the unveiling of its new Five-Year Plan, Ranking Member Raja Krishnamoorthi of the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) issued a statement warning that while Beijing accelerates its investments in science, technology, and defense, the Trump administration is hollowing out America’s own innovation base and undermining the nation’s long-term competitiveness.
“As the Chinese Communist Party wraps up its Fourth Plenum and rolls out a new Five-Year Plan, it is deeply concerning that Beijing continues to work at full speed to strengthen its economic, military, and technological power, while the Trump administration is dismantling and disabling America’s own capabilities and undermining our competitive strengths.
Since taking office, the administration has hollowed out the institutions that have made America a global leader in science, technology, and research. This includes more than $1 billion in grants to the National Science Foundation (NSF) and $4.5 billion to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Thousands of jobs for scientists and staff have been terminated or frozen at these and other federal agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The administration’s proposed budget for next year goes even further, slashing 57% of current-year funding from the NSF, 47% from NASA’s science programs, and 40% of the funding for the NIH. These efforts, led by Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought, are undermining the foundations of American innovation.
While Washington is distracted, Beijing is racing ahead. The People’s Republic of China is doubling down on investments in science and technology. To ensure that the United States retains its competitive edge, the administration should work with Congress to implement bold new strategies to invest in the people who power our research, innovation, and economy. That’s what is required to keep America the global leader in world-class science and technology.”
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