In November 2025, the United States concluded its longest-ever federal government shutdown, which lasted 43 days. The shutdown, which brought numerous federal operations to a halt, had a profound impact on scientific research across the country. Major research institutions, regulatory agencies, and scientific funding bodies were all affected, with many staff members furloughed and key functions suspended. The shutdown disrupted the operations of agencies that provide funding and oversight for scientific research, creating a period of uncertainty and delay for numerous projects.
Despite the significant administrative setbacks caused by the shutdown, scientific work has continued in certain areas, with some fields showing remarkable resilience. A notable example comes from the field of astronomy, where scientists used data from the Gaia Telescope to advance a groundbreaking project aimed at creating a 3D map of stellar nurseries. This ambitious endeavor spans roughly 4,000 light-years in all directions from the Sun, offering a deeper understanding of how stars are born and evolve. The use of existing data from the telescope, combined with international collaboration, enabled scientists to keep pushing forward with this important research, even amid the disruption caused by the shutdown.
This example underscores how certain scientific projects—especially those that rely on preexisting data or involve collaboration across national borders—can continue without immediate access to new funding or administrative support. In particular, astronomy and other disciplines that can rely on data archived in advance or infrastructure that exists outside the federal system have shown remarkable flexibility in the face of the shutdown.
However, experts caution that the long-term effects of the federal shutdown on U.S. scientific research remain uncertain. While some fields, particularly those reliant on private funding or international partnerships, may continue to thrive, the shutdown has caused significant delays in areas that depend on federal funding and regulatory oversight. The backlog in grant reviews, the disruption of regulatory processes, and the absence of staff at key agencies could hinder future discoveries and slow the progress of ongoing projects.
For U.S. science policy, the aftermath of the shutdown may serve as a cautionary tale. While astronomy and other data-driven fields have managed to weather the storm, disciplines that depend more heavily on government funding and infrastructure may face long-term challenges. The slowdown in research across various scientific fields could lead to shifts in the balance of innovation, with disciplines like astronomy absorbing a larger share of the nation’s scientific output, given their reliance on archived data and non-federal infrastructure. This could have lasting implications for the trajectory of U.S. research and innovation.
As the U.S. scientific community looks ahead, the lessons from this shutdown may influence how future research is funded and supported. The ability of science to continue amid political disruptions highlights the resilience of certain fields, but it also raises concerns about the stability and sustainability of funding for the broader scientific enterprise. The future of U.S. science will likely depend on finding ways to mitigate the impact of political gridlock and ensure that the country’s researchers can continue to make discoveries, even in the face of administrative setbacks.
