NOAA Scientist Dismissals Spark Protests

More than 1,000 demonstrators gathered outside the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) building in Boulder, Colorado, on Monday, protesting sweeping layoffs imposed by the Trump administration. According to two current employees, the cuts affected more than 10% of the scientific workforce at the facility.

The rally was spearheaded by former U.S. Congressman David Skaggs, a Democrat from Colorado, after whom the NOAA building in Boulder is named. Skaggs, initially expecting only around 100 participants, was surprised by the large turnout, with police estimating attendance at over 1,000.

Last week, the administration reportedly terminated over 800 NOAA employees nationwide, according to Congressional sources. At the Boulder rally, two current employees—who requested anonymity out of fear of losing their jobs—estimated that about 10% of the local NOAA workforce was impacted.

Scientists at the protest warned that the layoffs could jeopardize crucial services, including space weather forecasts that protect satellite operations and power grids, as well as life-saving wildfire, tornado, and hurricane warnings.

Susan McLean, a retired NOAA manager, expressed concerns that abrupt dismissals would make it harder to attract top scientific talent to federal positions. “We used to be able to recruit people despite lower pay because they believed in our mission