A Path Forward

There’s every reason to expect that a second Trump administration will pose a risk to our values and priorities at least as severe as the first term, if not more. The previous Trump administration was marked by rollbacks of vital policies, a hostile climate that drove public servants out of office, a disregard for communities historically overburdened by pollution, and more than 200 attacks on science we rely on for making good decisions. We know from Project 2025 that these attacks on science and scientists will intensify.

While the consequences are daunting, we can’t afford to despair. When science is sidelined, people get hurt.

That’s why we’re launching a national campaign on day one to defend the scientists who get up every day to keep us safe. With your help we will work to limit political attacks on government scientists and experts, stop suppression of scientific research, fight unqualified science agency nominations, and defend against other anti-science action in the Project 2025 agenda.

That’s just part of the work ahead—work that will include fighting for democracy and clean energy at the state level, countering disinformation, holding corporate bad actors accountable, and building long-term solutions to protect science and improve lives.

We know the threats that this administration may pose to the climate and clean energy progress, efforts to build a cleaner transportation system, food and farms, science-based decisionmaking, and global security. We’re ready to confront those threats, but we need your help.

The challenges the planet faces are too urgent for complacency or cynicism. We’re clear about the threats we face but we must move forward with hope and determination—and we will move forward. We will defend the progress we’ve made at the federal level, advance our goals at the state level, and expose and push back against the abuses that are likely to come.

The Union of Concerned Scientists has stood for truth and conscience for more than a half-century, and we’re continuing that mission. We hope you’ll join us.