Second Budget Cut Rally At NASA Glenn

Keith’s note: according to a press release (more below): “Stand Up for Science, Cleveland Organizes Rally for NASA Glenn on Anniversary of Moon Landing”:

• Who: Stand Up for Science Cleveland
• What: Rally to Protest Budget Cuts at NASA Glenn
• Where: Willard Park in downtown Cleveland
• When: July 20, 2025, 2-4 PM

Contact: [email protected] 216-706-9484

Stand Up for Science Cleveland, a local group fighting cuts to federal science funding, announces a rally in support of NASA’s Glenn Research Center. [info]

It is scheduled to take place on July 20, 2025 from 2-4 PM in Willard Park at the northwest corner of East 9th Street and Lakeside Avenue (map).

The purpose of the event is to bring attention to proposed severe cuts to NASA funding and jobs, to call on northeast Ohio’s Congressional representatives to oppose these cuts, and to demonstrate local support for the NASA Glenn civil servants and contractors operating who are working under great uncertainty at NASA Glenn.

A spokesperson for StandUpforScience Cleveland said the date of July 20th was chosen for the protest because it is the anniversary of the moon landing which is NASA’s crowning achievement.

“We’ve chosen the date of its 56th anniversary for our protest to remind our legislators what’s possible when we fund space science and exploration.”

Stand Up for Science Cleveland is a local hub of the national organization Stand Up for Science. Cleveland area researchers and students are working to connect with the community to protect space science funding and research at NASA Glenn.

Fact Sheet

Stand Up for Science Cleveland Supports NASA Glenn

The NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) employs nearly 1,400 civil servants and a large number of contractors. The proposed FY26 budget would reduce the civil servants to 837 and layoff many contractor staff.

NASA Glenn is a local economic powerhouse. GRC supports over 9,000 jobs in Ohio. A 40% cut in funding for NASA Glenn will slash payroll and purchases GRC makes for materials and services in northeast Ohio, and severely impact businesses and families in northeast Ohio communities.

The site’s $607M in FY2023 funding had an impact of $1.9B in economic output in 2023, according to an impact study by Cleveland State University.

The administration’s decision to request significant staffing cuts at all GRC testing and research facilities decreases the resources critical to commercial airline safety. The proposed staffing and budget cuts in the FY26 proposal will lead to the shutdown of several Glenn wind tunnels. Also, it would slash support for spacecraft development and testing.

The decision to drastically reduce funding to planetary science, astrophysics, heliophysics, and other science initiatives reduces the potential for future Moon and Mars missions.

The budget decision to eliminate the NASA office of STEM Outreach means that northeast Ohio’s next generations will lose opportunities to pursue science, technology, engineering, and math careers.