The Australian government’s scientific agency, CSIRO, has joined over a dozen universities in receiving a questionnaire from the Trump administration, inquiring if their research aligns with U.S. government interests.
On Tuesday, CSIRO disclosed that they have received correspondence from the U.S. A spokesperson for the organization stated that they are aware of a “small number” of researchers who have recently received the questionnaire and are in the process of determining an appropriate response.
The questions in the survey include inquiries about funding from China, whether the project is related to climate or “environmental justice,” and if the organization is taking “appropriate measures” to defend against “gender ideology” in line with Trump’s executive order on gender.
Since the Trump administration came into power, seven universities in Australia, including Australian National University, Monash University, and University of New South Wales, have seen their U.S. funding cut on research projects, according to the education department.
Researchers from at least 13 universities who receive US funding have been sent surveys, seeking a response within 48 hours to more than 30 questions to support “program determinations,” sources from the universities have informed the Guardian.
About 40% of Australian publications in the physical sciences involve American collaborators, including research on vaccine development, cyclone tracking capability, and systems that monitor, forecast, and respond to extreme weather events.
A CSIRO spokesperson stated that the organization has numerous projects with the US government and that it is premature to speculate on the impact of these changes on their collaborations and partnerships with the US.
The Australian government is facing pressure to respond to the U.S. attacks on scientific funding, with the Australian Academy of Science calling for the prime minister to convene an emergency meeting of the National Science and Technology council to assess Australia’s vulnerability to US R&D investment and develop risk mitigation strategies.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/mar/25/csiro-australia-science-agency-questioned-trump-administration-us-government-interests
