I think it has less to do with DEI and more to do with "what is this doing for the US, rather than the world as a whole?" Accumulation of scientific knowledge

I think it has less to do with DEI and more to do with "what is this doing for the US, rather than the world as a whole?" Accumulation of scientific knowledge is a positive externality, and the current administration doesn't care about benefits to other countries. Or costs to other countries, for negative externalities as from CO2.