Hundreds of protesters from UCLA marched through Westwood on Tuesday as part of a national day of demonstrations against the Trump administration’s cuts to national health research funding as sympathetic drivers roared the corner of their car and led the streets.
The Kill the Cuts gathering, organized by a union coalition, is deployed on 37 sites across the country. They were meant to draw attention to President Trump’s decision to stop billions of dollars in fundraising from the NIH. Like other institutions of higher education, the University of California relies on these and other federal funds for power generation research into cancer, diabetes and many other diseases.
At UCLA, researchers emerged from labs and offices, gathered at the Bruin Plaza to talk about how many targeting programs, including diversity, equity and comprehensive efforts, impact their livelihoods. Elisa Pabon says she is Columbian-American and receives funding through the NIH initiative, which aims to promote diversity and support academics from underrepresented communities.
“Even if none of these fundraising mechanisms existed, I am not standing before you today,” said Pabon, 30. “It’s devastating because these programs are investments in people in their future, their potential, and they’re torn apart.”
UCLA postdoctoral researcher Elisa Pabon spoke on campus on Tuesday in a protest against the Trump administration’s cuts to national health funding.
(Myung J. Chun/Los Angeles Times)
And she said, her work will soon be placed on ice. Pabon, a member of the UCLA Center for Cannabis and Cannabinoids, is in the middle of a Institutional Studies and Academic Career Development Award Fellowship. However, she learned this month that financial support will end in August.
“I’m in devastation,” Pabon said of the times before the protest. She said if she can’t find another source of funding, she “maybe she’ll apply for unemployment and she’s not going to hire a postdoc.”
The reduction covers research on LGBTQ+ health, HIV, gender identity, vaccines and more. Many cuts are linked to researching programs that directly or tangentially promote diversity among researchers or issues affecting racial minorities.
In his burning speech, Pabon and others embraced the Trump administration, but urged attendees to take action, saying that lawmakers needed to hear about their dire circumstances and the consequences of their inaction. Inside the audience there were signs handed over by organizers that read, “Kill Cut and Save Science.” There were also some terrible homemade versions that said, “Science. Why you haven’t died yet.” During the rally, the speaker paused as the crowd chanted “Shame! Shame! Shame!”
In response to the cuts, UCLA, USC and other campuses cancelled several research efforts and revoked doctoral candidates and postdoc research positions. The campus, which anticipates a widespread overall cut in government funding, a potential increase in taxes on donations and a decline in international student registration under the Trump administration, has enacted a full employment freeze.
In a statement, a spokesman for the University of California said “we place emphasis on federal investment in research and its role in economic growth and innovation across the country,” and “we have regained funding for these research grants and urged Congress to continue to provide robust funding for federal research institutions and life-saving programs.”
NIH did not respond to requests for comment.
The Trump administration’s biggest slash came on February 7th. The NIH said it would cut $4 billion in fictitious funds given to universities annually for medical research grants. The agency has acquired “indirect” funding at 15% of the grant, down from the roughly 60% that many University of California receive. Instead of the $100,000 grant plus an additional $60,000, the money given to the overhead would be $15,000. The university uses such funds to cover electricity, internet, maintenance, management aid, and some labs covering cleaning of mouse food and cages.
The “Kill the Cuts” protest at UCLA was part of a national action day denounced the Trump administration’s cuts to fundraising for NIH.
(Myung J. Chun/Los Angeles Times)
The Trump administration argued that overhead fees are a waste, implying that universities can use donations to make up for their losses. Campus leaders responded that there are limits to their contributions as many donors gave money only for a particular expert or department.
Sydney Campbell, a cancer researcher and postdoctoral scholar at UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine, said Monday that she began to worry about the fate of her research when she saw a social media post about the 15% cap in February. Campbell, who is studying how diet affects the development of cancer, said it is unclear how the cut will affect the lab she works for — it hasn’t lost the grant — but she is worried about possible changes.
“Indirect is extremely important to your ability to do science,” said Campbell, 34, who attended the rally. “We have space in buildings that don’t pay rent. We have refrigeration services and ventilation services needed to do our specialist work. Indirect costs support that.”
Michael Chue, a professor of political science at UCLA, held signs of protest, saying that university faculty and staff were standing with students. “Reducing science, STEM funding, and health research funding really threatens to undermine overall generational progress in science, medicine and health,” he said. “We really need to maintain our college health.”
Legal challenges from almost 20 states are trying to reverse the dramatic scaling in NIH funding. California, democratically-led states and academic groups sued the administration in Massachusetts federal court in February, winning a halt on NIH cuts. On Tuesday, the Trump administration said it was suing a decision before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.
However, ongoing uncertainty has hit researchers.
“These cuts were made without thinking, for no foresight or for no reason,” Tara Kerin, a project scientist involved in Geffen School’s pediatric infectious disease research, told the crowd.
Project scientist Tarakelin spoke at a meeting at the UCLA campus on Tuesday.
(Myung J. Chun/Los Angeles Times)
“This is an attack on science and health for all of us,” said Kellin, 47. “The research we all did here today helps billions of people around the world. …Cancellations of these NIH grants not only impact current developments, they will delay future innovation.”
Before the demonstration, Kellin told the Times as of late last year she had multiple NIH grants. But everything ongoing was cancelled last week, she said, and that her annual contract will expire at the end of June.
“We don’t have the funds so we won’t be renewed this year,” she said. “I have worked in public health for over 20 years. It’s the first time I’ve lost my job since I was 16. It’s a bit scary.”
The rally ended with a march to the Federal Building on Wilshire Boulevard near the 405 Expressway. The scene became Tety when the group began demonstrations at the intersection as they crossed from Veteran Avenue to Wilshire. Beeps from the car once had stronger signs of support. About eight minutes later, the protesters left the road and were called up in front of a 17-storey tower, where the chapel continued.
The dog will take part in a “kill cut” protest at UCLA on Tuesday.
(Myung J. Chun/Los Angeles Times)
Traffic along the busy corridor started flowing again, but one driver on the Tesla Model Y rolled down the windows and trained his rage over the crowd.
“I hope they close it all!” the woman cried out with indecentness.
But the protesters had heard another speech, but no one would see her gaze as she speeded.
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