Science faculty and students from New Jersey colleges protested on March 7 against cuts by the Trump administration to federal research grant funding.
Sacramento, California – A new bill introduced in the California Senate aims to establish a state-run scientific research and vaccine program in response to sweeping federal cuts and shifting health policies under President Donald Trump’s administration. The legislation, proposed by San Francisco state Senator Scott Wiener, seeks to safeguard California’s leadership in scientific innovation and public health as federal support wanes.
Wiener’s proposal, unveiled Thursday and first shared with POLITICO, would create the California Institute for Scientific Research. This new agency would fund scientific studies in key areas facing budget reductions by Trump and Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, including biomedical research, climate change, and drug safety. Additionally, the bill directs California’s prescription drug program, CalRX, to expand its focus to vaccine accessibility.
“California is a global leader in science, and we must step in to protect our scientific institutions from the new administration’s anti-science, ‘Make America Sick Again’ onslaught,” Wiener stated. “For California to thrive, we must defend science.”
The move comes as the Trump administration attempts to cut $4 billion in National Institutes of Health (NIH) research grants, a proposal currently held up in court. Simultaneously, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has raised eyebrows within the public health community by questioning vaccine mandates and promoting alternative health remedies amid a growing measles outbreak that started in Texas.
Wiener’s bill echoes California’s response during Trump’s first term when Governor Gavin Newsom independently reviewed COVID-19 vaccines to counter public distrust of federal guidance. The proposal also draws parallels to previous efforts where Western Democratic governors collaborated to evaluate vaccine recommendations rather than relying on federal direction.
“As Trump, Musk, and RFK Jr. dismantle federal science leadership, California must step up,” Wiener asserted. “We must lead.”
If passed, the bill would direct state funding to research projects historically backed by federal grants. It prioritizes support for California-based researchers while allowing partnerships with out-of-state institutions that collaborate with the state’s scientists. This approach seeks to mitigate the potential loss of federal funding and ensure continued progress in critical scientific fields.
Additionally, the bill would enhance California’s role in vaccine distribution by empowering CalRX to contract with manufacturers for vaccine production. This mirrors existing efforts to produce low-cost naloxone to combat the opioid crisis. The state’s centralized vaccine procurement system, myCAvax, already facilitates bulk vaccine orders for local health departments, and this legislation would further strengthen California’s ability to maintain vaccine access even if federal policies shift.
Despite California’s commitment to science and public health, the bill faces significant hurdles. The state is grappling with budget constraints, including potential cuts to Medicaid. While the Democratic-majority legislature is likely to support the measure, Republican opposition and financial concerns could complicate its path forward.
Wiener, widely rumored to have ambitions for Nancy Pelosi’s House seat, remains steadfast in his push to position California as a national leader in scientific independence. “If Washington won’t protect public health and scientific progress, then California will,” he declared.
