Scientists fight back against funding cuts and policy threats

The Trump administration’s attacks on science — slashing research funding, silencing researchers, and threatening grants — are pushing scientists out of the lab and into activism.

Heidi Ledford and Alexandra Witze report for Nature.

In short:

• Researchers across the U.S. are stepping into advocacy roles, protesting cuts to federal research funding and forming new groups to defend science policy.
• The administration’s attempts to freeze grants, censor research on diversity, and reduce funding for indirect costs have spurred a wave of petitions, congressional outreach, and grassroots organizing.
• Rallies, including the March 7 “Stand Up for Science” events in 32 cities, aim to spotlight the real-world impact of these funding threats and mobilize broader public support.

Key quote:

“The actions of this administration have already caused significant harm to American science and are risking the health and safety of our communities.”

— Joint letter to Congress by the Union of Concerned Scientists and 48 scientific societies

Why this matters:

It’s a fight with real consequences. From clean air and water standards to pandemic preparedness, the administration’s funding cuts and policy rollbacks aren’t just targeting abstract concepts — they’re putting lives at risk. Across the country, researchers who once stuck to peer-reviewed journals are stepping up to the mic and scientists are making it clear: They’re not going to take this one lying down.

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