A Planner’s Dilemma: Preparation Can’t Save the Future
Reflections on the limits of structure, resilience, and hope in uncertain times
As a perennial planner, I have often thought that it is one of my only redeeming traits. I am not particularly talented or introspective, but I have always thrived in structured environments and been able to mitigate risk in a manner that avoids total collapse. I have appreciated the opportunity to create and work within a structure which is not always certain, rather it is often quite expansive. The walls are closing in right now in a way that I have never seen. Even the most eager and talented planners cannot kid themselves or claim that they can out work a heightened chance of being let down. The past two months have been incredibly disheartening. Countless friends have been laid off through the sole cause of partisanship under a guise of “efficiency”. Many dedicated individuals who have put in years of hard work and made significant sacrifices have been discarded overnight. This has been especially difficult for trainees and those starting their careers.
Most of these blog posts I write start from either a major news event or an on-going dilemma I have had with research. Today’s inspiration is the massive news around many federal grants at Columbia University being unilaterally cut. $400 million in total, with reporting indicating that $250 million of the $400 million are NIH grants. This past weekend I was at a conference and was disconnected from the news while I tried to distract myself with a new city, friends, and fresh science. That headline left a murmur around the poster sessions and transition times between events
This story by Ryan Quinn, a faculty issues reporter at Inside Higher Ed, is a good overview of the aspect of the cuts that I would know most about, the NIH cuts.
“In the federal fiscal year 2024, Columbia University received more than $690 million from the NIH, most of which went to its medical center, according to an analysis of data from the Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research.
Neither the NIH’s post Monday nor the NIH spokesperson provided information on what the terminated grants were for. The second Trump administration has repeatedly misstated the dollar amount of cuts it has made in the past.”
I believe many people do not fully understand the work and sacrifices people make in biomedical research and the federal government. As a PhD Candidate in a School of Medicine, I work on integrated teams which are upheld by talented staff, students, administrators, and investigators. Many people disagree with the best method or choices, but discourse around the value of science is almost never in question. Maybe people have disagreements about the construction of a program, the path that people should take with their career, or even the appropriateness of investing in new methods opposed to refining the implementation of old ones. What is happening right now in science is not a slight disagreement, it is a widespread reckoning about the worth of any scientific infrastructure supported by the federal government.
People often like to think that government work is useless because they do not directly see its impact on their daily lives. They prefer highlight aspects not useful in their own lives while often ignore the rest. However, this attitude is detrimental to the effectiveness of government systems. While siloed systems emphasize individualism and control, long-term progress often depends on coordinated action—even if it moves more slowly. This is where I believe we need to focus our efforts.
During these challenging times, I find myself trying to laugh with and reflect with the people I am close to. However, I also remind myself to be less punitive and more forgiving of myself and others who are not direct adversaries in my life or the lives of others. It is overwhelming to deal with the current situation, but amidst all the chaos, I believe it is crucial to consider the potential outcomes of this moment. When you lose hope for the future, spiraling into a pit is only a short fall away. It is easy to get caught in a pit of despair, but I am trying to stay focused on planning for the future. I want to find ways to be the change I wish to see and make it through each day. Additionally, I am committed to empowering people and supporting each other in a way that prevents similar backlash from happening. I am leaving these notes as a reminder to myself and others, hoping they can help us navigate these difficult times.