# Trump's climate research attacks fueled by corporate influence

> Corporate donors and fossil fuel firms helped Trump weaken climate research at US universities.
- Title: Trump's climate research attacks fueled by corporate influence
- Summary: Corporate donors and fossil fuel firms helped Trump weaken climate research at US universities. Trump administration's 2025 funding cuts and university…
- Keywords: fossil fuel industry, university autonomy, climate research, trump administration, corporate influence, academic freedom, donor agreements, research funding, Trump's, climate, research, attacks
- Source: Mother Jones — https://motherjones.com/politics/2026/09/fossil-fuel-industry-giving-influence-philanthropy-university-climate-research-trump
- Author: Sara Sneath
- Published: 2026-09-29T07:30:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: fossil fuel industry, university autonomy, climate research, trump administration, corporate influence, academic freedom, donor agreements, research funding
## Trump administration cuts
Trump administration froze billions in research funding in 2025.
## University funding freeze
Princeton lost $4 million in climate grants.
## Research questions changed
Scientists deleted 'climate change' from grant applications.
## Corporate funding surge
Fossil fuel firms gave $700 million to universities between 2010-2020.
## Donor agreements
Donor agreements let outside actors control hiring and curricula.
## State laws target autonomy
Arizona created first libertarian academic center in 2016.
## Faculty response
Faculty need power to review gifts before accepting them.
## Key takeaway

Trump administration's 2025 funding cuts and university agreements enabled fossil fuel companies to shape climate research questions.