Oklahoma representatives, advocates protest to support science funding, research amid federal cuts

About a hundred people gathered in front of the Oklahoma state Capitol Friday afternoon in protest of nationwide layoffs at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and to support scientific funding and research.

Supporters gathered on the South Plaza in front of the Capitol building to hear from speakers including Rep. Jared Deck (D-Norman), Rep. Jacob Rosecrants (D-Norman) and Rep. Andy Fugate (D-Del City).

Stand Up for Science was created in mid-February and quickly transformed into a national movement with rallies scheduled in Washington, D.C., New York City, Chicago and 28 other cities, according to a press release.

The rally comes less than two weeks after National Weather Center employees, including OU meteorology students, had their employment terminated in line with nationwide layoffs of workers at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 

The layoffs are a result of the Department of Government Efficiency's efforts to significantly downsize the federal government. About 62,500 government employees in various departments across the nation have been fired so far, according to reporting from Reuters.

A former National Weather Center female employee who wanted to remain anonymous said she started her job in December and was fired via email just over a week ago. She said she left a high-paying position to move across the country to start her job at NOAA’s Norman location because she felt the opportunity in Norman would better serve the community.

“It kind of upended my life and … I don’t have family here. I moved here to serve the American public and to have this job that keeps people safe because real time warning is really important,” the former employee said. “Now I have to kind of pick up the pieces and I’m going to have to break my lease and move out.”

The former employee said employees were expected to leave their positions immediately with no warning and no severance pay. After only three months living in Norman, she said she has to begin the job search and move all over again.

“Nobody really was expecting it. It was just an email and we were out the door,” she said. “Was there an exit path given via these DOGE cuts? No.”

While the loss of her job caused a huge rift in her life, the former employee said she’s thankful she’s still young enough to not be affected by losing insurance, but she fears for the workers who relied on healthcare and insurance to provide for their families. She said the losses are damaging to Oklahoma’s economy, removing valuable revenue that would have gone back to the city.

“I’ll go back home, but I would have stayed here and I would have contributed to the economy and probably ended up settling down and volunteering and having kids and doing all of the things you want people to do in Oklahoma,” the former NOAA employee said.

Deck, who gave a speech at the rally, said he hopes the event proves to scientists who are fearful of the future that people support them and are standing behind them as attacks on research continue to flood out of the nation’s capital. 

“We are at the point where we can choose to fear the things that we don’t yet know, or we can embrace possibility,” Deck said. “We want the scientific community to know that not only do we value their work, but we also value them and what they’re doing.”

Deck encouraged OU students and faculty affected by layoffs at the National Weather Center to continue to fight against further budget cuts and job eliminations, expressing his commitment to supporting affected Normanites.

“I would tell our students and our community to continue to push your legislators on a state and federal level,” Deck said. “We are now in an uphill battle to try to gain or regain their work and refund it. That’s going to be a long fight, but it’s one that we’re up for.”

Ashley Hobson, professor at the OU Health Sciences Center, said she attended the protest to advocate for funding for research, specifically in higher education. She said OU research makes great strides in science, but a lack of funding can hinder that from happening.

“We have the potential to be one of the top research institutions and we have brilliant minds and the fact that funding is being taken away is very concerning,” Hobson said. “It does not align with what we hope to see come out of the research happening at the life sciences center.”

Hobson said many research projects at the Life Sciences Center are being impacted by cuts in grant funding that allow the center to advocate for opportunities to address disparities on a local and national level. 

In February, the National Institute of Health announced research universities receiving grants from the NIH would be forced to reduce indirect costs to 15% of the total grant. Historically, indirect costs have averaged just under 30%.

Indirect costs are expenses not readily identified within a particular grant such as salaries, materials, supplies and equipment, and consultant services needed to accomplish grant objectives.

“We really want to make a difference and it’s concerning that there are new barriers,” Hobson said. “I know a lot of people have navigated a lot of barriers already to be able to do the research that they’re doing and address the needs of Oklahomans. So to have that taken away is really concerning.”

Hobson said she’s seen her students pay close attention to movements by the federal government that could impact their careers and uncertainty is raising anxieties for the future.

“There’s a lot of unease. Just not sure what the future looks like,” Hobson said. “And decisions that are impacting our education that do not necessarily align with our professions, so I think it’s concerning for a lot of them.”

Adeline Molinski, a 34-year old research technician,  said with lower funding from NIH, projects and jobs are at risk of being terminated. She said scientific work heavily relies on grant funding and she’s anxious her own job could be affected.

As a young mom, Molinski said she’s afraid she won’t be able to support her family if her job is terminated. 

“I’m really scared that in a few years I’m going to lose my career that I’ve built to create and that is supporting my family,” Molinski said. “I just had a baby and now will I be able to put food on the table?”

Another protester, Marlon Richardson, 83-year old researcher at OU’s Health Sciences Center and Oklahoma City VA Medical Center, has been involved with research for over 50 years. Richardson said for the first time, he has postdoctoral students worrying about getting funding and jobs. 

“We’re at a very critical juncture in our nation's history,” Richardson said. “This administration is the most anti-science I’ve ever seen and people don’t realize that science is so important to not only (the) economy, but where we’re at with respect to health care and things like that.”

Richardson said DOGE leader Elon Musk is a driving force in the attacks on grant funding and research.

“The jobs are going to dry up in the science industry I think, because of this … What they’re doing is chaos,” Richardson said. “Our elected officials and our congressmen and senators need to figure out whether they’re standing up for the people in the community or Trump and Musk. It’s as simple as that.”

Event organizer, Sheeva Azma, an independent neuroscientist, said she was excited to see the turnout for the event and was inspired by the participation of local scientists in the community. She said the event was proof that researchers are engaged and ready to fight for what they believe in.

“I don’t think there’s anything better than to have a rally for science and have actual scientists show up. I’m really excited about the future,” Azma said. “I feel like if you are skeptical or feeling hopeless about the current times, I feel like this event was proof that scientists are very engaged and we’re going to fight for what we know to be true.”

This story was edited by Anusha Fathepure and Ismael Lele.