In Washington D.C. protesters took to the streets on Wednesday, Feb. 19, to challenge the latest round of firings of federal government workers, this time targeting the scientific community.
On Wednesday, February 19, hundreds of current and former federal employees gathered outside the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) headquarters in Washington, D.C., to protest recent mass terminations of federal workers, particularly within the scientific community. The layoffs are part of the Trump administration’s initiative, led by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), aimed at reducing government spending.
Protesters expressed deep concern over the potential long-term impacts of these cuts on public health and scientific research. Ian Fucci, a cancer researcher at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), emphasized the critical role of federal research in medical advancements: “Consider the medications you rely on for diabetes, heart disease, or cancer. These were developed in large part due to NIH and NIH-funded researchers. Is destroying years of progress into research really serving the American people? No.”
The rally, held amid frigid temperatures and light snow, featured attendees chanting slogans such as “Funding, … Many carried signs proclaiming, ” … Critics argue that DOGE’s workforce reductions have sown confusion and jeopardized essential public services. One protester’s sign rebranded the DOGE acronym as the “Department of Grifting Everything.”
Democratic lawmakers, including Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, addressed the crowd, pledging to challenge the administration’s policies through legislative and judicial avenues. Van Hollen declared, “We’re going to fight this in … .”
Personal stories highlighted the human toll of the layoffs. Ellen Bak, a former … recounted how her termination over the weekend led to the loss of her research into stem cells and … . “The sheer amount of money and time … lamented. “Is it all just …
The rally underscored the growing opposition to the administration’s approach to federal employment and its potential ramifications for public health and scientific progress.