Massive Turnout at Science Congresses Across the Country

Thousands of people in American cities protested March 7th against the Trump administration's cuts to scientific funding.

In New York City, over 1,000 people gathered at Washington Square Park and chanted “Fund Science Not War!” People had signs of mourning the cut, including one that said, “Science makes America great.”

The protest was one of at least 30 “stand-up for science” rallies in US cities, and over 150 events were expected worldwide. The researchers also left the institute as part of the protest.

Since President Donald Trump took office on January 20th, the administration has cancelled or frozen billions of dollars in federal funds for scientific and medical research. Much of the reduction focuses on research related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and research on climate change and gender. The government has also fired thousands of federal employees at U.S. scientific institutions, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“Science is something that needs to be cherished. I think everyone has to be here. I'm rather working with my cells in my lab, but I think we need to bring awareness to these issues.” Anna Vivineteda neuroscientist at Weill Cornell Medicine who participated in the New York protest. She had signs that read, “So bad, even introverts are here.”

“Science is being attacked, and funds are now being cut for decades in ways that affect the well-being of our country,” says Maia, a researcher at the Columbia University Eco Museum in New York. She says she and her colleagues lost funds for their research.

The largest gathering took place in Washington, D.C., where thousands of people attended. It included scientist Bill Nye. Francis Collins, former director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Several members of the Congress. Over 1,500 people attended the New York event. There, notable researchers also spoke, including Lisa Randall, the chief scientist at Meta Ayan Lekun, former NIH director and Nobel laureate, theoretical physicist at Harvard.

Researchers from around the world participated in the New York protests. “America has been a very exceptional thing to science. I really believe that science has made America great. We are very disappointed because everything is destroyed,” says a French cancer biologist.

New Scientist We also spoke with scientists from Argentina, Israel, Canada and Australia at the rally. Some of them worried that they might have to leave the US to continue their work. “I am heartbroken. Vivinezze, from Argentina, said:

Dennis Robbinsa science educator at Hunter College in New York had a sign that read, “Now I am a crazy scientist.” He says he had the same signs in his first “March for Science” protest in 2017.

#StandUpForScience2025 At the Michigan State Capitol. It's time to still come out and defend government scientific funding and sustaining evidence-based decision-making. pic.twitter.com/jvtktzocaf

– Rebecca Santelli (girlfriend) (@rebeccasantelli) March 7, 2025

I got up! We were very proud to have lended us a voice (and sign making talent) to support our scientific research. #ResearchMatters #StandUpForScience2025 #scienceforall #scienceNotIlence pic.twitter.com/mofmrnvkuv

-ndri (@ndri_resource) March 7, 2025

A crowd of people at the Philadelphia science march! The most popular sign: “I left the lab for this.” The protests have just begun, so please join us! #marchforscience #science #philly

[image or embed]

– Melissa Shusterman (@melshust.bsky.social)) March 7th, 2025, 11:04am

Lives from Paris for American and international researchers #StandUpForScience2025 pic.twitter.com/mvl6jysutg

– Morrel (@pascalmaurel) March 7, 2025