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Red alert: US government cuts over 1,000 jobs at NOAA!
Trump administration lays off over 1,000 NOAA employees; Protests against cuts in research and science are increasing.
Red alert: US government cuts over 1,000 jobs at NOAA!
The USA is facing a dramatic restructuring process in the science sector. Under Donald Trump's administration, over 1,000 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) employees will be laid off, representing a tenth of the entire workforce. Experts like former NOAA chief Rick Spinrad are alarmed and warn that these deep cuts will have serious consequences for weather forecasting and resource management. “The first steps towards eradication,” Spinrad calls the measures that, according to reports, were ordered by the government without clear guidelines. NASA is not spared: an additional 23 positions are affected, including senior scientist Katherine Calvin, which further endangers adequate research and technical progress.
Scientists are fighting back
In parallel with the layoffs, thousands of scientists took to the streets in cities like Washington, D.C., and New York to protest the Trump administration's austerity policies. The Stand Up for Science protest movement highlights the threat posed by budget cuts and attacks on scientific knowledge. A concerned staff member explained, “Who will heal you when the scientists are gone?” The demonstrations highlighted concerns about job security and progressive research. The importance of vaccinations was also emphasized, particularly in the context of a recent measles outbreak. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) and other research institutions face similar challenges, which could impact the future of scientific innovation.
These developments not only have an impact on employees, but also on the quality of research work in the USA. Senator Chris Van Hollen explained that the cuts are not about efficiency, but rather will have harmful consequences for society. These changes run parallel to the US government's financial cuts, including at Columbia University, where funding was also cut, further exacerbating the already tense situation krone.at and zeit.de report.