Jeff Tollefson

New York

U.S. Correspondent at Nature

US correspondent at Nature covering energy, environment and increasingly development, or pretty much anything under the sun. My views are of course my own.

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Articles

‘Totally broken’: how Trump 2.0 has paralysed work at US science agencies

1 week ago | nature.com | Dan Garisto |Jeff Tollefson

As the administration of President Donald Trump continues its campaign to reshape the US government with spending cuts and mass lay-offs, some scientists still employed at government agencies say that their work has become impossible.
International PhD students make emergency plans in fear of US immigration raids

2 weeks ago | nature.com | Jeff Tollefson

A wave of shock and fear has spread among university researchers as US immigration officials have moved to detain and deport international students and scholars. The officials allege, in many instances, that the detainees’ involvement in protests against Israel’s war in Gaza constitutes a threat to national security.
Trump administration sued over huge funding cuts at Columbia University

4 weeks ago | nature.com | Jeff Tollefson

Two organizations representing faculty at Columbia University today filed a lawsuit in federal court challenging the administration of US President Donald Trump's cancellation of $400 million in research grants and contracts to the university.
What’s in store for US science as funding bill averts government shutdown

1 month ago | nature.com | Jeff Tollefson

The US government averted a shutdown late last week after President Donald Trump signed into law a spending agreement that likely locks in modest cuts to science funding this year. But a larger crisis for science still looms as the Trump administration and Republicans in Congress continue to seek massive cuts to the federal budget for 2025 and beyond.
Trump team orders huge government layoffs: how science could fare

1 month ago | nature.com | Dan Garisto |Max Kozlov |Jeff Tollefson

Agencies across the US government have been ordered to initiate another punishing round of layoffs at the same time Congress is moving forward with a plan to slash their budgets — a potential blow to science.
Trump officials bar US climate team from global talks

1 month ago | nature.com | Jeff Tollefson

A major United Nations climate assessment is moving forwards in China this week without the United States, after the administration of President Donald Trump blocked US officials’ participation and shut down a team providing technical support for the next international climate assessment.
‘Targeted and belittled’: scientists at US environmental agency speak out as layoffs being

2 months ago | nature.com | Jeff Tollefson

Before Donald Trump became US president for the second time last month, one of his Republican allies revealed a plan to put US government employees “in trauma” so that they would leave their jobs. The strategy, articulated by Russell Vought, now a key figure on Trump’s White House team, was one part of a larger plan to downsize and defund government agencies.
Drill, baby drill? Trump policies will hurt climate ― but US green transition is underway

2 months ago | nature.com | Jeff Tollefson

Higher greenhouse-gas emissions, fewer jobs, more expensive energy and dirtier air that kills more people: researchers have begun plugging US President Donald Trump’s energy and climate policies into their models, and the early results suggest far-reaching environmental, health and economic consequences. Trump, a Republican, began his second term on a promise to “drill, baby, drill”, vowing to make the United States rich again by promoting the development of oil and gas.
What Trump’s flurry of executive orders means for science

Jan 22, 2025 | nature.com | Max Kozlov |Jeff Tollefson |Dan Garisto

The new president signed decrees designed to shift the US government’s stance on climate and public health.
Earth breaches 1.5 °C climate limit for the first time: what does it mean?

Jan 10, 2025 | nature.com | Jeff Tollefson

It’s official: Earth’s average temperature climbed more than 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels for the first time in 2024. Climate scientists announced the breach today, signalling that the world has failed, at least temporarily, to avoid crossing the threshold set by governments to avert the worst impacts of global warming.