May update: Finding hope in the data
Finding hope in the data
U.S. scientists (along with the rest of us) have never experienced a moment like the one we’re in now. The rampant destruction tearing through our government and reverberating through the rest of society is, at times, hard to wrap our heads around.
To better understand our current situation, we can look at some key numbers:
The bad:
- 67 attacks on science – and counting – by the second Trump administration
- Thousands of federal scientists who have been fired or demoted, or whose entire departments have been eliminated
- 6 scientists in a single week contacting us for legal help, a staggering number compared to the 64 total scientists we helped in all of 2024
The reasons for hope:
- 5 new CSLDF team members, including a full-time staff attorney, a project attorney, a summer intern, and two new board members, each of whom brings valuable experience and knowledge
- Thousands of pro-science, pro-democracy demonstrations to push back against the Trump administration’s extreme agenda
- 179 – and counting! – court rulings against the administration
- $50,000 in matching funds for our annual Summer Match campaign, generously donated by CSLDF supporters who have stepped up to meet this moment
- 0 chance that we’re backing down from this fight
In the midst of the ongoing devastation, we continue to fight – there is no other option. And while we’re up against a wildly anti-science administration composed largely of climate-denying billionaires, our small yet mighty team is up to the task.
If you can, please consider supporting us. The need for the free legal support we provide to scientists is greater than ever, and we just kicked off our Summer Match campaign – meaning every single dollar donated (up to $50,000) will be doubled.
Together, we are stronger than the forces that are attempting to divide us. Thank you for standing with us in defense of science and scientists.
Please note that things are moving very quickly and may have changed by the time you read this newsletter.
News & Updates
Trump Attacks on Climate Science May Violate Numerous Federal Laws
May 21, 2025 | Michael Gerrard, New York Law Journal
The second Trump administration has launched an unprecedented rollback of efforts to fight climate change. Much of this is aimed at scientific research on climate change, or has the effect of inhibiting the conduct and dissemination of this research. Many of these actions may also violate federal laws.
Monitoring Scientific Integrity in the US: Silencing Science Tracker
May 15, 2025 | Skeptical Science
The scientific community is not naturally equipped to communicate this threat to us all. But given that we’re all harmed by rampant administrative violence being inflicted on the scientific world, it’s important that we know why and how we’re intentionally being made more ignorant. The Sabin Center and CSLDF have long maintained the Silencing Science Tracker to help us comprehend the amount of damage being done to science and who is responsible for it.
100 Days of Trump 2.0: Silencing Science [Again]
May 1, 2025 | Sabin Center Climate Law Blog
One hundred days into Donald Trump’s second term, his administration’s assault on science shows many similarities to his first term, particularly in his rejection of scientific evidence and his willingness to break things. But his actions just three months into his return have been substantially more damaging than the first time around.