- Sumaya Azhar | Staff
- Sep 3, 2025 (DailyCal.org)
The UC system formally launched “Speak Up for Science” last week, a campaign aimed at preserving and restoring funding for federal science agencies currently threatened by steep cuts from President Donald Trump’s administration.
“Speak Up for Science” calls on people to email their federal lawmakers, asking them to reject proposed cuts and bring back funding for agencies. The website includes an email template that people can fill out with their personal information and send to lawmakers.
According to the email template, the Trump administration proposed cutting funding for “the National Institutes of Health by 39%, the National Science Foundation by 55% and the Department of Energy’s Office of Science by 13.9%.”
“Congress is considering a budget request that includes cuts to the federal science agencies that have profoundly improved the quality of life for all Americans, in health, technology, agriculture, and beyond,” said UC Office of the President Associate Director of Strategic & Critical Communications Stett Holbrook in an email. “Speak Up for Science provides a forum for all Americans to make their voices heard in support of science, research, and higher education.”
As part of “Speak Up for Science,” the UC has released a social media graphic, Zoom background and GIPHY sticker.
The webpage also lists the impacts that federally funded scientific research has had, such as creating “good jobs in growing industries” and innovating “new technologies that make life easier and keep communities safe.”
“Speak Up for Science” is part of a larger UC campaign, “Stand Up for UC.”
The “Stand Up for UC” webpage says “the federal government’s demand of $1 billion from UCLA puts the entire University of California system at risk.” People can contribute to the campaign by adding their name to a pledge showing support for UC and by sharing their story of how the UC has impacted them.
The same week that “Speak Up for Science” was formally launched, UC President James B. Milliken met with the state Senate, the Assembly and the California Legislative Jewish Caucus, according to an Aug. 28 UC federal update brief.
According to the brief, Milliken “emphasized the importance of UC’s continued partnership with Governor Newsom and state leaders and highlighted the significant economic and operational impacts of the federal government’s suspension of hundreds of millions of dollars in research funding at UCLA and its demand for a $1 billion payment from California taxpayers.”
