Is science still an endless frontier?

This study analyzes the evolution of the relationship between science and government in the United States through the lens of the social contract of science. It proposes a five-dimensional framework covering legitimacy, institutional support, autonomy, functional expectations, and responsibility, and identifies three historical stages from 1945 to 2024, followed by recent policy changes since 2025.The findings suggest a shift from a science-centered, cognition-driven model to a mission-oriented model shaped by national competition and technological capacity. This transition is marked by more concentrated resource allocation, stronger alignment with industrial and security policies, and growing pressure on basic research. Overall, the postwar social contract of science is undergoing a structural transformation that remains unsettled. This shift reflects a context-specific response to intensifying competition rather than a universal model.