The Trump administration’s draconian cuts to federal research funding and moves to restrict visas for foreign doctoral students has created a feeling of siege in the academy and segments of the tech industry.
Chinese international students, who disproportionately go into tech fields, have been particularly impacted. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has vowed to “aggressively” revoke visas of some students from that country amid escalating tensions between Washington and Beijing over trade and geopolitics. His announced criteria for these evictions have been vague, and could possibly apply to a broad swath of this student population. On the other hand, as part of a trade deal with China, Trump has also indicated that he will help those Chinese students who do pass muster to find employment in America after graduation.
Critics of the administration’s actions have insisted that foreign students and federally funded research are necessary to preserve American competitiveness in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. They assert that American competitiveness has already been significantly eroded, with the Chinese publishing more papers than the Americans, resulting in lower rankings for the United States in the National Science Foundation (NSF) league tables. Tech industry CEOs, prominent academics, and many commentators contend that limits on foreign students and reductions in federal grants will spell the doom of American tech leadership.
Is the US tech industry’s historical success due to the research output of American universities? Are Chinese students in particular essential for American competitiveness? And is China surpassing America in the tech leadership league tables a cause for concern? As a professor of computer science, I have a keen appreciation for the contributions of foreign students to American higher education and industry, definitely including outstanding talents from China. But I’ve also observed up-close dynamics that many commentators fail to see. Admitting large numbers of foreign students has depressed wages for holders of advanced STEM degrees, thereby discouraging Americans from pursuing doctoral study. Most important, the influx of foreign students and workers has also weakened the distinctive culture that has helped to power American innovation and industry.