Opinion: A federal proposal puts Maine’s scientific research in peril

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • June 25, 2026

Maine is a small state with a large scientific footprint. Across the state, nearly 10,000 people work in the life sciences, at roughly 600 institutions or businesses. Maine’s life sciences sector is growing faster than other job areas and contributes $2.3 billion to our economy. This growth was built on a foundation of federally funded research. That foundation is now under threat, and Maine has a lot to lose. A recent policy proposal from the White House would transform longstanding federal regulations that propel discovery-driven research, fundamentally weakening the pipeline that produces America’s most important scientific advances. This proposal will sow uncertainty in the research conducted in Maine, which has supported thousands of jobs statewide. Now is the moment for Sen. Susan Collins to demand that the White House withdraw this proposal. ~ Elisabeth Marnik,The Evidence Collective