Hundreds of UC Santa Barbara students, faculty and academic workers gathered Tuesday afternoon to protest proposed budget cuts to scientific research and education programs.

The demonstration, part of the national “Kill the Cuts” campaign, began at the Arbor and
culminated in a march to Cheadle Hall, where demonstrators called on university leadership to oppose cuts to research funding.

Protesters held signs and chanted, “Elon, Trump, you can’t hide. We can see your greedy side,” as they made their way across campus.

Keneni Godana, a graduate student in the Earth Studies department, spoke at the rally and
emphasized the direct impact the proposed cuts would have on students and researchers.

“We’re here to show that these cuts cause real tangible harm,” Godana said. “They threaten the salaries and futures of graduate students, postdocs, and the productivity of our research.”

Flyers reading “Kill the Cuts, Save Science” were handed out during the event, highlighting the importance of continued funding for institutions such as the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Science Foundation.

Organizers encouraged community to call lawmakers to oppose cuts to federal grants for scientific research and the state’s proposed 8% cuts to the University of California system.

Several speakers emphasized that the proposed cuts could halt critical research and jeopardize public health.

When speaking to the crowd, Emma Hanlon, a graduate student in the Humanities department, said, “Are you here because you do lifesaving research?”

She continued, “We will not be intimidated by the cuts.”