Updated on October 20, 2024 with new details
The current Biden-Harris administration and potential Republican approaches offer different visions for the future of American science. While the Biden-Harris team emphasizes investments in climate change mitigation and clean energy, conservative approaches have historically focused on deregulation and achieving energy independence through traditional energy sources.
Biden-Harris administration
The Biden-Harris administration has proposed substantial investments and reforms aimed at addressing major issues such as climate change, public health, and advancing equity. In a Fact Sheet, the administration emphasized plans to bolster funding for research and development, especially in areas related to climate change and clean energy. The Biden administration’s FY 2025 budget proposal includes $202 billion for federal research and development (R&D), which is a slight increase from the previous year. Harris’s campaign website outlines additional proposals, including investments in semiconductors, AI, and other high-tech industries. She also backs expanding access to capital for innovative small businesses and entrepreneurs.
Trump’s previous approach
During his previous term, Trump’s administration revealed skepticism towards certain scientific consensuses, especially on climate change, and focused on economic considerations over environmental regulations. His policies included downsizing environmental agencies, reclassifying many government scientific positions, and prioritizing fossil fuels for energy independence. Trump’s approach differed significantly from the current administration in areas such as climate change mitigation and environmental protection.
Breaking down the proposals
Trump’s previous policies focused more on energy independence through traditional sources, nuclear weapons development, and restructuring of scientific agencies. When it comes to manufacturing and job creation, both sides have made claims about their impact. According to FactCheck.org, “the trend under both Presidents Trump and Biden followed a similar pattern: two years of growth after an economic downturn, followed by job losses in the third year.” Yet they note that “Biden has seen an average monthly increase of 18,200 manufacturing jobs per month, compared to 11,600 per month pre-pandemic under Trump.”
The full impact of policies may take time to materialize. FactCheck.org quotes Alan Tonelson, a manufacturing policy analyst on this point: “We will have to wait quite a while longer before we see the full effect of things such as Trump’s tariffs, the investments under Biden and the pandemic.”
The approaches to boosting manufacturing differ between the two camps. Under the Biden-Harris administration, there has been a significant increase in manufacturing investment. Bureau of Economic Analysis data shows that private investment in manufacturing increased under Biden, up about 90% since the fourth quarter of 2022. Yet the long-term impact of these investments on job creation and productivity remains unclear.
