President Donald Trump’s research cuts have triggered the science community and organizers are calling for demonstrations on a “National Day of Action.”
The president and his Department of Government Efficiency have been focused on eliminating waste and fraud in the federal government, and his efforts to save Americans’ tax dollars by cutting some of the administrative costs involved in publicly funded research projects have set off a chorus of complaints.
Academic unions across the nation have sounded the alarm, calling on “allies” to gather for a protest on Wednesday in front of the Health and Human Services Department building. The community of scientists, researchers, clinicians, and academics are being encouraged to demonstrate outside of congressional offices, med schools, and universities, Fox News reported.
“For the last three weeks, we have seen unprecedented attacks on science that have severely impacted our day-to-day work as scientists, researchers, and clinicians – funding that sustains critical scientific research to improve human health has been dramatically cut, research is being censored, and scientists are losing their jobs,” reads a form for the event.
“The work we do is a public good and essential for the health of each and every American, now and in the future. We must fight to save science so we can continue doing the work that keeps Americans healthy,” the message continues.
“We are joining academic unions across the country in a National Day of Action. We will rally in defense of science, medicine, and public health in DC. We are demanding the administration stop the attack on science, medicine, and public health research by rescinding the cuts and restrictions,” the form for the Feb. 19 event declares.
Protests are also set to take place at Rutgers, the University of Washington, Oregon Health & Science University, and the University of Illinois Chicago, according to an online ad for the event.
Tonight! Higher ed workers are mobilizing against myriad political attacks. Want to get involved? Tonight at 8pm ET we’re hosting a National Strategy Call, during which we will discuss upcoming strategies and actions. Join us! https://t.co/uoNSqnyMNi pic.twitter.com/pb1bJfaOKl
— Higher Education Labor United (HELU) (@HigherEdLabor) February 13, 2025
“Fox News Digital reached out to the Metropolitan Police Department to determine whether any safety or security measures would be put in place, but the department declined to share specifics regarding operations, tactics or staffing,” the outlet reported. “The department did iterate that it recognizes the importance of ‘upholding the First Amendment rights of individuals to peacefully express their views’ and is committed to facilitating these events while also protecting public safety. The department added that there was no known threat to the D.C. area at that time.”
A “Stand Up For Science 2025” protest is being planned for March as well.
Stand up for Science 2025 protest in DC and all State Capitols on March 7th. Sign up here to be kept up to date as plans get solidified.@CDelawalla https://t.co/zuS8hgCCjh
— Daniel P. Moriarity (@dp_moriarity) February 12, 2025
