Gun violence researchers express deep concern over the implications of Donald Trump’s second presidential term, fearing renewed efforts to restrict funding for public health research. Experts like Dr. Garen Wintemute of UC Davis are rushing to safeguard vital federal gun violence data amid White House directives that threaten the very foundations of their work.
As the administration moves to reverse progressive policies, including withdrawing from the World Health Organization, many researchers recall the troubled history of gun violence studies, which saw funding plummet in the late 1990s due to political pressure. Federal agencies have allocated over $137 million for gun violence research since 2020, but with the new administration’s aggressive stance, scholars worry they may soon face significant barriers to continuing their essential work.
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