Local attendees joined Congressman Raskin, former NOAA scientists, and environmental advocates to voice their concerns about the mass layoffs that threaten public safety and vital environmental research   

Silver Spring, MD – Hundreds of concerned citizens and activists gathered today outside of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) headquarters in Silver Spring to loudly protest the recent mass layoffs and budget cuts orchestrated by Elon Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The high-energy rally was organized by Congressman Jamie Raskin (MD-District 8) and CCAN Action Fund to spotlight NOAA’s critical role in protecting communities and the environment.  

Watch a recording of the live stream HERE.

A musical performance by a choir of activists set the tone as rallygoers loudly voiced their support for federal workers. Protesters stood arm in arm, symbolically protecting the NOAA building in solidarity with the 1,300 NOAA workers who have been illegally fired. The Trump administration and DOGE reportedly aim to cut a total of 20 percent of NOAA’s national 13,000-person workforce.

Congressman Raskin, whose Congressional district includes Silver Spring, spoke about vital importance of NOAA’s research. 

“The American people count on NOAA’s weather forecasting, seafood safety inspections and protection of our fisheries for sport and commercial fishermen,” said Representative Jamie Raskin. “Without the National Weather Service, the forecast for America is cloudy with a 15% chance of fascism. That’s why we rallied outside NOAA’s headquarters in Silver Spring: we’re defending science, facts and democracy itself. The thousands of federal workers illegally sacked from NOAA by DOGE must be allowed to resume their vitally important jobs — not just get paid for them, which is ridiculous. Trump, Elon Musk and MAGA should know that Congress and the people created NOAA and we’re not letting it go down to their plutocrat games.”

Former NOAA scientists provided testimony about the human toll of these illegal firings and their implications for climate research and weather forecasting. These staff and budget cuts could lead to gaps in data collection, impacting the agency’s ability to monitor environmental shifts and provide weather warnings, ultimately threatening public safety and economic stability. 

“I know NOAA and there is no dedicated group of public servants in this country than the people who work in this agency day in and day out to make your seafood safe, to bring you weather forecasts that are accurate, and to give you the ability to save your families in times of great danger,” said Monica Medina, former Deputy Secretary at NOAA. “For people who need to know how to get out of ports during storms or who need to know whether to prepare for what could be a devastating event in their lives, NOAA delivers every day on their mission.”

“For the last three years, I have had the tremendous honor and responsibility of serving as a member of the Marine Fishery Advisory Committee (MFAC). I had a voluntary position until February 28 when I received a one-sentence email notifying me and the nineteen other members of MFAC that the committee had been permanently terminated,” said Sarah Schumann, former Member of the Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee. “MFAC was a voluntary position so I did not lose economic stability like so many of the NOAA employees who have been senselessly fired in the last two months…I lost the ability to exercise my voice on behalf of my community. I lost the ability to bring knowledge to my fellow fishermen about the real-time needs, ideas, and priorities that exist around the coast.”

“NOAA has been a leader internationally in weather, therefore the World Meteorological Organization does what NOAA does. Weather-Ready Nation came from NOAA and is now an international enterprise, an international activity,” said Craig McLean, Former Director of NOAA Research. “Every advancement that has been going on internationally in global ocean science came out of here. It came out of the United States, it came out of the agency that is responsible for integrated ocean science all around the world, and that’s NOAA. When the United States surrenders its leadership in science, you wind up losing.”

“NOAA’s work is absolutely essential for addressing the climate crisis here in America and around the world. NOAA is a place of innovation, collaboration, and global leadership. These layoffs are not just numbers; they represent dedicated public servants who safeguard our communities from severe weather events and protect our environment,” said Quentin Scott, Federal Director at CCAN Action Fund. “ We cannot afford to lose their expertise and commitment. It’s crucial that we stand together to defend NOAA and ensure that our nation continues to prioritize vital research and public safety.”

Watch a recording of the live stream HERE.

#   #   # 

Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN) Action Fund is dedicated to driving change in public policies at the local, state, and national levels to address the climate crisis. Through voter education, lobbying, and participation in the electoral process, we seek to advance our country’s leadership in the global movement toward clean energy solutions — focusing our efforts primarily in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC. We know that a vibrant democracy is central to our success so we work to defend democratic integrity wherever we can.