Sign the petition to defend scientists being attacked by Donald Trump and Elon Musk!
Dear MoveOn member,
Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s mass firings of federal workers is a direct attack on science, designed to serve corporate greed. An entire generation of scientists, doctors, and public health leaders have been laid off—putting our health and planet at risk, all so billionaires and their industries can rake in even more profit. That’s why this past Friday, thousands of everyday people took to the streets to stand up for science in Washington, D.C. and across the country.1 But we have to keep up the momentum. Will you sign the petition?
The National Institutes of Health—the largest funder of medical research in the world—was forced to lay off 1,200 people. Publicly funded research from the NIH is essential for public health and medical breakthroughs, fueling innovations in disease prevention, lifesaving treatments, and cures that prioritize people’s well-being over corporate profits. The sudden freezes to research and grants threaten the livelihoods of workers, students, researchers, and educators—the ripple effects of which will have an impact on entire communities and states.2 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also recently slashed two prominent training programs.3
At the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)—the primary provider of critical, widely used forecasts for a range of extreme weather events, including hurricanes, heatwaves, and drought—800 probationary staff were laid off recently, and 500 more took the “deferred resignation” option.4 NOAA has always been a lean operation, and Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is cutting through the bone.
Make no mistake, these attacks on science will harm everyone—preventing the discovery of lifesaving treatments, stalling research for cancer and other deadly diseases, and eliminating critical scientists who ensure we have safe air and water.5 Without strong public investment in science, people will suffer, and historically marginalized communities will bear the burden of these harms.
In Trump’s first month of office, he has issued an overwhelming barrage of directives. But we know what we’re up against. These anti-science actions are pulled straight from their Project 2025 playbook, and we must remain steadfast and united in our defense against them. We need members of Congress to commit to doing everything in their power to fight back and STOP the politicization of science and firing of scientists who help protect our health, safety, and future.
Thanks for all you do.
–Union of Concerned Scientists
P.S. See our email below to learn more about our “Save Science, Save Lives” campaign and what’s at stake for science under this administration.
Sources:
1. “Science, Politics and Anxiety Mix at Rally Under Lincoln Memorial,” The New York Times, March 8, 2025
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/08/science/march-for-science-trump-protest.html
2. “UMN researchers, state senators speak out against NIH funding cuts,” The Minnesota Daily, February 13, 2025
https://mndaily.com/292539/city/umn-researchers-state-senators-speak-out-against-nih-funding-cuts/
3. “Trump Cuts Target Next Generation of Scientists and Public Health Leaders,” The New York Times, February 18, 2025
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/18/us/politics/fda-cdc-health-department-trump.html
4. “Trump officials fire 800 employees at weather forecasting and oceans agency,” CNN, February 28, 2025
https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/27/politics/noaa-federal-workers-firings/index.html
5. “UMN researchers, state senators speak out against NIH funding cuts,” The Minnesota Daily, February 13, 2025
https://mndaily.com/292539/city/umn-researchers-state-senators-speak-out-against-nih-funding-cuts/
Want to support MoveOn’s work? Donald Trump and his MAGA allies expect us to give up. But we will not give them what they want. We will never stop working to defend our fundamental freedoms and protect our democracy. MoveOn has been leading the movement against right-wing extremism for 26 years, and we promise you that we will still be here every step of the way forward.
Will you donate to power MoveOn’s work to protect our freedoms and democracy under Trump’s administration?
No, I’m sorry, I can’t make a monthly donation.
Contributions to MoveOn Civic Action are not tax-deductible for income tax purposes. MoveOn.org Civic Action – PO Box 96141, Washington, D.C. 20090-6141. ActBlue Civics Inc. is the merchant of record for all transactions made to MoveOn Civic Action using the ActBlue platform. ActBlue Civics Inc. receives and processes these donations before disbursing them to MoveOn Civic Action within 30 days of receipt.