US President Donald Trump’s restrictions on international scientists continue in his second term. As of 2025, the US government has begun sending out new questionnaires, especially to scientists who receive funding from abroad or work with US-based support. This development is creating concern and distrust among researchers in Europe. Researchers working at some universities are being forced to fill out a questionnaire called “scientific security screening” for projects they conduct with American partners. The questions include the researcher’s international collaborations, political background, funding sources, and even themes in some of the studies they have published.

Trump drew attention with the pressures on Chinese scientists during his first term as president. Now, the same pressure and distrust policy has begun to be applied to European Union countries. In response, the European Commission announced last month that it had developed visa facilitation for researchers from the US and accelerated joint project application mechanisms compatible with Horizon Europe funds. This will allow scientists in the US to face less bureaucracy when they want to work at institutions in Europe or conduct temporary research. EU officials say this process is strategic both in terms of protecting scientific freedom and attracting talent.

The Trump administration’s new repressive policies towards science are making scientific cooperation with the US difficult, while creating new opportunities for Europe. European universities, especially those that emphasize principles such as funding independence, freedom of publication and research security, could crown these developments with a reverse brain drain. This process could change not only scientific production but also the direction of global knowledge flows.