The ETH Zürich has received a confidential questionnaire from the US government regarding a research project funded by American grants.

The questions reportedly focus on compliance with the Trump administration's political directives, particularly concerning gender and climate research.

This move has sparked criticism in Switzerland, with politicians emphasizing the importance of academic freedom and equality.

Some fear this could signal broader scrutiny of Swiss projects funded by the US.

The ETH is consulting with other universities before responding, as refusal to comply could jeopardize funding.

This incident highlights the risks of dependency on foreign research grants.