Using newly compiled data spanning from 1980 to 2024, a recent study reveals that 25% of scientifically active STEM PhD graduates trained in the United States leave the country within 15 years of completing their degrees. While departure rates vary by field—lower among life sciences and higher in emerging domains like artificial intelligence and quantum science—the overall trend has remained remarkably stable over the past four decades. Contrary to widespread concern that the U.S. is losing its competitive edge by training scientists who eventually move abroad, the research shows that the U.S. continues to benefit significantly from these graduates even after they relocate. Although the share of global patent citations attributed to U.S.-trained scientists drops from 70% to 50% after they migrate, their impact remains substantial: their citation share in the U.S. is still five times greater than that of the country they move to, and equivalent to the combined output of all other nations outside the U.S. This finding underscores the enduring value of the U.S. education system in shaping global scientific innovation. The study suggests that the U.S. gains long-term advantages not only from retaining talent but also from the international reach of its trained scientists. Their work abroad often builds on U.S.-developed knowledge, reinforcing the global influence of American research institutions and contributing to the diffusion of technological advancement. The results challenge the notion that brain drain undermines national competitiveness. Instead, they highlight how the U.S. leverages its leadership in science and technology education to generate outsized global impact—whether its scientists stay or go.