Hundreds Rally in Ann Arbor for Laid-off Federal Environmental Workers

Ann Arbor's Earth Day celebrations this year centered on supporting federal environmental workers facing layoffs and funding cuts, with rallies highlighting the essential role these employees play in protecting the Great Lakes and broader climate initiatives. Protesters, including former researchers and union members, warned that job losses at agencies like the EPA and NOAA threaten critical research on issues such as harmful algae blooms, invasive species, and weather prediction. Speakers, including former NOAA and Great Lakes lab staff, emphasized that the elimination of these positions risks decades of scientific progress and public safety, citing gaps in emergency alerts and research continuity. U.S. Representatives Debbie Dingell and Rashida Tlaib joined the demonstrations, criticizing federal funding reductions under the Trump administration as reckless and dangerous. Local labor groups and organizations like the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) and the Huron River Watershed Council signaled concern about the trickle-down effects of these federal cuts on regional environmental work. The rallies called for renewed public support and solidarity with workers who 'work for the earth,' underscoring the broader importance of federal stewardship for environmental protection.