Universities in the U.S. and U.K. confront funding declines affecting research activities and scientific advancement. U.S. programs aimed at increasing college access are facing funding cuts by the Trump administration, while states like California propose multi-billion-dollar investments to offset federal reductions. In the U.K., one in five universities have curtailed research in critical fields such as cancer and environmental science due to diminishing support from government and charitable sources. These financial pressures threaten the sustainability of academic research and educational equity initiatives.