The number of issues we face may seem overwhelming, and often it feels as though there is nothing we can do. But luckily there are lots of things we can each do to make a big difference.
Part of the strategy we are up against is called “flood the zone”, where the goal is to start so many fires that we are overwhelmed by where to start and end up giving up. But we aren’t giving up. Pick your meme/inspirational quote – but any action we take anywhere makes a difference. It shows that we are not giving up. By taking action you also inspire others to create change.
Below we have outlined many things that you can do. To reduce decision fatigue, we will highlight a single action you can take and rotate that action on a regular basis
So many things we do can make a difference should inspire you. Join with fellow concerned Georgians, take action, and do one or two or as many as you want of the following action steps!
Take Action!
Current thing to do – write your local legislator and ask them to Fund SNAP with Emergency Funds
- Find your State Legislators (Georgia General Assembly House and Senate)
- Write them / call them sample ask:
Dear <X>
I am Vicky Voter, and I live in your district.
I ask you find a way to provide stop-gap funding for SNAP. People need to eat. They do not deserve to be punished by whatever is occurring in Washington, DC.
I know that the good people of the Georgia General Assembly and the Georgia State Government do not want our citizens to go hungry. I urge you to use whatever tools you have available to ensure that the 1 in 8 Georgians (about 1.5 million, many children) do not go hungry.
Let’s set an example for the rest of the country that Georgia can rise above the fray and get things done.
Thank you for your time,
Sincerely,
Vicky Voter
123 Main St, Your Town, State
vivky@fakeemailaddress
Write Congress asking them to pass a budget that reopens the government AND ensures ACA subsidies and NOAA, EPA, NSF, NIH, CDC, funding remains at last year’s levels.
- Find your US House Rep and US Senators
- Write them / call them sample ask:
Dear <X>
I am Vicky Voter, and I live in your district.
I ask you to reopen the government and to stand strong by supporting ACA subsidies (it’s hard to work if you are unhealthy) and science agency funding at a level consistent with last year.
As a <scientist / friend of science> I am a strong supporter of a functional federal government in the US because it does <X> for <Georgia’s economy / workforce / public health / national defense>.
Thank you for your time,
Sincerely,
Vicky Voter
123 Main St, Your Town, State
vivky@fakeemailaddress
The good news is that Georgia is a purple state – that means pressure from our General Assembly does have an impact on the federal level.
Current thing to do – write your local legislator and ask them to pressure Congress to reopen.
- Find your State Legislators (Georgia General Assembly House and Senate)
- Write them / call them sample ask:
Dear <X>
I am Vicky Voter, and I live in your district.
I ask you to contact Congress and urge then to reopen the government and to stand strong by supporting ACA subsidies (it’s hard to work if you are unhealthy) and science agency funding at a level consistent with last year.
As a <scientist / friend of science> I am a strong supporter of a functional federal government in the US because it does <X> for <the State of Georgia (i.e. funds our education, SNAP, healthcare, university research that fuels our economy>.
Perhaps your position as a fellow legislator might have a greater influence on them.
Thank you for your time,
Sincerely,
Vicky Voter
123 Main St, Your Town, State
vivky@fakeemailaddress
The Impact Map shows where, and what type, of cuts have been made. But what does this mean? What are the consequences? What effects on your life and your community?
Workers Locked out of the Centers for Disease Control (many in Atlanta)
- ~1,600 Impacted by the Reduction in Force (reduced from nearly 2,400 initially)
- 500+ Retirements Processed (April 1 – May 31), including:
- 350+ Voluntary Early Retirement Authority (VERA)
- 180+ Voluntary Separation Incentive Payments (VSIP)
- 400+ Deferred Resignation Program (DRP)
- 400+ Probationary Employees
- Hiring Freeze Until July 15
USAID closing impacts the CDC as well. For example, the divisions working on diseases in other countries (where, for example, many diseases start – COVID, Ebola, etc), are funded in large part through USAID. Because USAID funds are going away those international staff are coming home and funding for them vanishes at the end of this fiscal year.
Learn More!
“A degree from one of USG’s 26 public colleges and universities is a million-dollar deal for graduates and a billion-dollar boost for Georgia,” USG Chancellor Sonny Perdue said. “Students see real returns through higher earnings and better opportunities. Meanwhile, our institutions power Georgia’s economy and help local communities thrive.”
University System of Georgia’s Economic Impact Increases to $23.1 Billion | Communications | University System of Georgia – 12 Aug, 2025.
The evolution of universities as engines of innovation | Stanford Report – 15 Aug, 2025
Ag Extension and Peach Growers working to better transport Georgia’s peaches for sale: Farmers experiment with turning up the temperature on Georgia peaches – Savannah Morning News | 4 Sept, 2025
How Uruguay ditched fossil fuels for renewables – The Washington Post – 20 Sept, 2025
Successful Pushback –
Farmers Sued Over Deleted Climate Data. So the Government Will Put It Back. – The New York Times – May 12, 2025
Public Pressure Saves Water Monitoring – Science for Georgia
Rep. Carter throws support behind Superfund Research Center | Local News | thebrunswicknews.com – Aug 18, 2025
Advances in Cancer Therapy
Science changes lives—it’s doctors, patients, and students working together on discoveries that give people hope. Breakthroughs like CAR-T therapy, which has put some patients with deadly blood cancer into long-term remission, show just how powerful investing in science can be.
Kemp orders state spending freeze amid uncertain federal funding – Grice Connect.
From missing FEMA aid, to budget cuts, to lack of funding for food programs – indiscriminate cuts are having a major impact on Georgians. Learn more here.
You only think about public health and healthcare access when it doesn’t work. Right now, there are a lot of things no longer working. Learn more here.
Georgia is facing the loss or delay of up to $22 million in federal grants, cutting vital programs that support internet access, public health, disability services, and electric vehicle development. These cuts, tied to new federal spending reductions, are hitting vulnerable communities the hardest—especially rural, low-income, and disabled residents. With essential services and safety measures at risk, staying informed and pushing local lawmakers to act has never been more urgent.
News Articles on Losses
Georgia has lost $2.9B in clean energy investment in past year, report says – AJC – 22 Oct, 2025
ARC cancels 14 Flint River trail projects, pivots to smaller scale – SaportaReport – 10 Oct, 2025
Seniors in Georgia lose jobs lifeline as federal funds stall for program – The Current – 29 Sept, 2025
NIH budget cuts force US scientists to consider moving abroad – Silicon Valley Business Journal – 15 Aug, 2025
War on Measurement and Missing Data Sets
Government data sets are used to set our homeowners insurance rates, plan for severe storms, and distribute education dollars.
This data you paid for is now offline.
Far more environmental data is being deleted in Trump’s second term than before | Georgia Public Broadcasting – Aug 8, 2025
Trump administration plans to end NASA missions tracking greenhouse gas and plant health | AP News – Aug 6, 2025
Interior Department ends air quality monitoring at all national parks – The Washington Post – May 5, 2025
EPA No Longer Investigating Chemical Accidents
The EPA, like many other govt agencies, has been gutted. How does this impact you? Remember the Biolab fire? The division that investigates those accidents doesn’t exist anymore. (Even the chemical industry is against this closure). Air quality monitoring prevents asthma and deaths. But now, that data is no longer being reported, and we just have to take industry’s word for it that they are complying with emissions standards.
Related Articles
Businesses face ‘chaos’ as EPA aims to repeal its authority over climate pollution | Georgia Public Broadcasting – 19 Aug, 2025
EPA wants to roll back greenhouse gas reports from polluters | AP News – 12 Sept 2025
Evidence that climate change is a public health threat is indisputable, report finds | AP News – 17 Sept, 2025
Hundreds of scientists rebuke Trump administration over latest climate move – 17 Sept, 2025
EPA orders some scientists to stop publishing research, employees say – The Washington Post – 20 Sept, 2025
UN chief defends science and weather forecasting as Trump threatens both | AP News – 22 Oct, 2025
An E.P.A. Plan to Kill a Major Climate Rule Is Worrying Business Leaders – The New York Times – 25 Oct, 2025
Share your Story!
Share the Good
Sixty Seconds of Science
We are seeking stories of science having positive impacts on society. Please fill in the form below OR consider a sixty second video. Please reach out to amy (dot) sharma (at) sci4ga.org if you’d like to make a video. Video script:
- hook leading question: “What does Gettysburg have to do with science communication” “Did you know worms can fight climate change?”
- I am <insert name here> <insert title here> and i study <5 words max>
- What is the problem your research addresses?
- What is the impact of your research on health, safety, making a living, food, shelter, agriculture, clean air, clean water, curing cancer, (the basics)
Share the Missing
Recent changes have shutoff government monitoring, interpretation, study, and release of data that enables us to understand the air we breathe, the water we drink, the crops we grow, and the food we eat. This impacts your health and safety. This impacts your ability to make a living.
We are compiling a database of what is no longer available, and the impact of that loss. Please share below. We understand in these topsy-turvy times you may be uncomfortable sharing your information. Please only share what you are comfortable with.
Share the Ugly
Is your air safe to breathe? Is your water safe to drink, swim, or irrigate? Is your food safe to eat?
Recent changes have shutoff government monitoring, interpretation, study, and release of data that enables us to understand the air we breathe, the water we drink, the crops we grow, and the food we eat. This impacts your health and safety. This impacts your ability to make a living.
What were you able to do before, that you cannot do now?
Have you or a loved one fallen ill?
Has your livelihood been impacted?
Has your property been damaged?
What services are you no longer able to provide to the community?
Has your area of research been impacted?
What is (or was) the public impact of your research or work?
Did you use a publically available database that is no longer available? Which one?
Please fill out the survey below.
We are collecting information about specific community impacts to provide examples to decision makers. The information you provide will be collated and shared as stories, maps, videos, social media posts, flyers, etc. to inform the public, policymakers, and the press.
We understand that in these times of uncertainty, people are scared to provide personal information for fear of retribution. Please only provide the information you are comfortable with sharing.
FAQs
We will be creating and sharing
- impact stories
- a map of impact locations
- a running list of formerly accessible information
You may be asking yourself what this has to do with science. Valid question. It has everything to do with science! Collecting and interpreting data is a main component of science. Data interpretation is how we predict the weather, issue flood warnings, plan where infrastructure like roads and sewers go, stop illegal dumping, identify sources of food contamination, and effectively treat diseases.
Scientists ask questions, collect data, and then utilize their results to serve the common good. #ScienceMattersHere
Successes
Sometimes we get data back! It can happen.
Facing lawsuit, USDA says it will restore climate change-related webpages
How this Ga. water testing and research center was saved from DOGE cuts