Kate Laurensen is a veteran reporter. She started out covering entertainment news for the local city paper before moving up to the City desk. She studied journalism at San Francisco City College for the Arts.
January 29 , 2025
Washington, DC - President Donald Trump has issued an executive order to cut off federal funding for the Doomsday Clock and freeze its time signature. The Doomsday Clock, maintained by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, symbolizes the likelihood of a man-made global catastrophe, with midnight representing the apocalypse.
The executive order, signed late Tuesday, directs federal agencies to halt all financial support for the Doomsday Clock project. The order also mandates that the clock's time signature be frozen at its current setting, which stands at 89 seconds to midnight, the closest it has ever been to the symbolic apocalypse.
President Trump justified the decision by stating that the Doomsday Clock has been a source of unnecessary fear and panic. "The Doomsday Clock has been used to spread fear and anxiety among the American people. It is time to put an end to this alarmist rhetoric and focus on real, tangible threats," Trump said in a statement.
The move has been met with mixed reactions. Supporters of the executive order argue that the Doomsday Clock has outlived its usefulness and has become a tool for political manipulation. "The Doomsday Clock has been used to push a political agenda and create unnecessary fear. This executive order is a step in the right direction," said a senior administration official.
However, critics argue that the Doomsday Clock serves as an important reminder of the existential threats facing humanity. "The Doomsday Clock is a powerful symbol that raises awareness about the dangers of nuclear war, climate change, and other global threats. Cutting off funding and freezing its time signature is a reckless and shortsighted decision," said a spokesperson for the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists.
The executive order also calls for a review of all federal funding for projects related to climate change and nuclear disarmament. This move is expected to face significant opposition from environmental and disarmament advocacy groups.
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