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Nearly 2000 scientists, engineers and researchers wrote an open letter this week to President Donald Trump’s administration, calling for a stop of his “attack” on science.
The letter was signed by elected members of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, Organization of Congress, which provides an independent analysis and helps to inform public policy decisions.
The group clarified that the signators express their own views, not the national academies or their home institutions.
“We are talking like personalities. At that moment we see a real danger,” the letter said in part. “We have different political beliefs, but we are united as researchers in the request to defend an independent scientific study. We send this SOS to sound a clear warning: the nation’s scientific enterprise is downplayed.”
“We urge the administration to terminate its wholesale attack on American science and call on the public to join this conversation,” the letter continued.
President Donald Trump walks from the Oval Cabinet to embark on Marine One in the Southern White House on the way to Florida, March 28, 2025, in Washington.
Mark Schiefelbein/AP
The group called the Trump administration for actions, including final funding for research, dismissal scientists and elimination of public access to data.
Recently, several active research grants related to studies involving LGBTQ+ problems, as well as gender identity and diversity, justice and inclusion, have been canceled at National Health Institutes. According to letters of termination, sent to researchers at various universities who have been reviewed by ABC News, the projects have been canceled as they have not served the “priorities” of the current administration.
In addition, earlier this year, the employees were fired at the Ministry of Health and Human Services as part of the Elon Musk Ministry’s Efforts to shrink the size of the federal government.
Earlier this month, HHS also seems to have downloaded a web page from the service of the General Surgeon, which includes a council for arms violence. In a statement to ABC News, HHS said the department “and the service of the General Surgeon complied with the executive order of President Trump to protect the rights of the second amendment.”
The White House did not immediately respond to ABC News’ request for a comment on the letter.
“If our country’s research enterprise is dismantled, we will lose our scientific advantage,” the letter continues. “Other countries will lead the development of new diseases, pure energy sources and new technologies of the future. Their population will be more healthier and their economies will surpass us in business, defense, reconnaissance and monitoring of the health of our planet. Damage to the scientific enterprise of our country can take decades.”
The letter comes when the dismissals begin at HHS, including at the National Health Institutes, Centers for Disease and Diseases and the Administration of Food and Medicines.
Up to 10,000 people are expected to lose their jobs in this round of cuts, an amount that can significantly change the roles and abilities of the department. This is in addition to nearly 10,000 who have already left the agency in the last few months through offers for buying or early retirement.
ABC News Hannah Demisi, Cheyenne Haslett and Etic Strauss have contributed to this report.
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