In response to the firing of probationary workers across the federal government, AAI issued the following statement:
The American Association of Immunologists (AAI) is deeply concerned about the damage to the biomedical research enterprise that will occur as a result of drastic reductions in the size of the federal scientific workforce. The federal scientific workforce plays an essential role in advancing scientific discovery, providing much needed data and supporting scientists across the country. Agencies including the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the National Science Foundation, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are all critical for protecting, improving, and saving lives of Americans and those across the globe.
The vital work carried out by these key federal workers has a direct impact on immunologists and the broader research community. This substantial reduction in the federal scientific workforce threatens to disrupt collaborations, slow scientific progress, and weaken the foundation of biomedical and immunological research – work that is the cornerstone of American leadership in science and technology.
We are especially concerned about the risk posed by a drastic reduction in the NIH workforce. Disruptions of this magnitude could have serious consequences for life-saving research and training the next generation of scientists. We are actively assessing the full impact of the situation so that we can best support the immunology community, but we are aware that any instability in scientific institutions is a threat to progress in public health.
AAI urges policymakers to recognize the vital contributions of federal scientists and to take action to ensure that our nation retains the expertise necessary to drive discovery, innovation, and public health advancements.
