March 12, 2025
Harsh Allegations
The letter voiced concerns about the Trump administration’s proposed budget cuts, specifically to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), which could harm the U.S. AI industry’s global leadership.
Source: X (@realDonaldTrump)
LeCun has been outspoken about his disapproval of both Elon Musk and former President Trump. In a post last year, LeCun criticized Musk for promoting conspiracy theories and voiced strong disagreements on several issues, despite admiring Musk’s work in cars, rockets, and solar energy.
A ‘Witch Hunt’
LeCun has repeatedly criticized Trump for policies he believes threaten U.S. academic and AI research. He accused the Trump administration of a ‘witch hunt in academia’ and warned that budget cuts to NIST would diminish the U.S.’s competitive edge in AI.
Yann also expressed concerns about broader funding cuts across federal agencies and the end of initiatives like the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) program, which could impact scientific research at universities.
