The current US administration’s actions could undermine academic freedom and environmental research, posing significant challenges not only domestically but also globally. This commentary provides a European perspective on the consequences of these developments for scientific inquiry, data availability, and evidence-based policymaking. While our US colleagues document the direct harms within the United States, we emphasize how European researchers and institutions can respond constructively. We discuss strategies for mitigating the impact of reduced US leadership in environmental policy and research – reflected in reduced federal support for research, rollback of environmental regulations, and weakened international engagement – including strengthening transatlantic collaboration, safeguarding open data, and advancing independent research. Ultimately, we argue that Europe has a critical role to play in sustaining scientific rigor and policy relevance in the face of political disruptions abroad.