Science and Democracy under Siege: a Day in My Life

A fresh day begins as I accompany my daughter to daycare. She chats away, excitedly noticing birds and trees along our route, passing by a block where, not long ago, masked ICE agents detained a driver while delivering food to a nearby neighbor. Just a few streets over, another man was forcibly removed from his home. They are part of the more than 228,000 individuals—neighbors, parents, workers—arrested by ICE, often without justification, throughout 2025. Such arbitrary actions traumatize entire families, forcing them into hiding from their jobs and communities. I reflect on my privilege as a citizen by birth (which, disturbingly, is facing potential threats) and as the child of immigrants who fled persecution.

After dropping off my daughter, I handle our latest daycare payment and mentally prepare to discuss our finances with my husband. Following concerted efforts from Republican-dominated states and orders from President Trump’s Department of Education, the student loan forgiveness initiative aiding families in public service is being dismantled. Consequently, our monthly loan expenses have skyrocketed nearly fourfold.

Back home, I dive into work: researching, documenting, and conversing about the rising attacks on science—a staggering 479 and counting since Trump took office.

As lunchtime approaches, I read a message from my daughter’s pediatrician regarding vaccine updates. They are awaiting guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) concerning the COVID-19 vaccine and are “doing everything possible to ensure availability for our patients.” Typically, such matters would be straightforward, but recent political meddling within the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)—the federal advisory panel guiding vaccine recommendations and insurance coverage—has jeopardized science-based decision-making.

In June, Health and Human Services (HHS) secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., replaced all ACIP members with his chosen appointees, many renowned for casting doubt on vaccine efficacy. At this month’s meeting—prompted by former CDC Director Susan Monarez’s stinging testimony—the committee propagated misleading and dangerous narratives regarding the COVID-19 vaccine. Thankfully, they ultimately recommended vaccination for those over six months (though with an ambiguous note on individual choice), yet access remains limited. With increased restrictions, “there may be supply challenges, particularly for children’s vaccines.” Clinics, like my daughter’s pediatrician, may face delays in acquiring vaccine doses.

During my lunch break, I browse LinkedIn, forwarding job opportunities to friends and family affected by mass layoffs instituted by the Trump administration throughout the federal workforce, leading to the displacement of hundreds of thousands of civil servants. These include family members dedicated years to enhancing access to maternal and child healthcare worldwide; friends committed to improving public transit or preserving clean air and water within their communities. Witnessing such significant efforts dismissed without due consideration is heartbreaking.

As the workday ends, I pick up my daughter from daycare, then head to the park with my husband and her. We observe a line of unmarked law enforcement vehicles racing through our neighborhood, disregarding stop signs. We put our phones aside, attempting to relish our family time.

After dinner, once our daughter is fast asleep, I take a can of paint in hand. Over the summer, she was found to have low levels of lead in her blood. The news was alarming, prompting us to take swift action—identifying, remediating, and repainting lead-contaminated areas in our aging home.

In the quiet of the night, as I paint our baseboards, I think about the invaluable programs and research devoted to understanding and preventing lead poisoning that have vanished. This year, Trump’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) terminated the CDC’s team responsible for combating lead poisoning, including initiatives to protect schools from lead exposure threats. This CDC program once guided me when I sought help after becoming aware of my daughter’s blood test results.

Earlier this year, when a school district in Milwaukee grappled with lead contamination, they reached out to the CDC, but the support team no longer existed. For the first time, there was no one to answer the call. As a parent, this reality is unbearable. In June, following intense public pressure, some of these staff were reportedly reinstated. Is this what we define as efficiency?

This issue extends beyond the CDC. Congress proposed to cut funding for lead service line replacements—essential initiatives that benefited my own home in ensuring lead-free drinking water. Additionally, the administration suggested eliminating funds for U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development efforts that financially support the safe removal of lead from homes. Consequently, states are being compelled to reduce these critical programs.

In May, the EPA announced that it would shut down its Office of Research and Development (ORD), the agency’s independent research segment that evaluated the dangers associated with toxic substances like lead, asbestos, and PFAS chemicals. ORD’s integrated science assessment for lead, updated last year, is indispensable for the EPA’s review and regulation of National Ambient Air Quality Standards for lead in our environment. Meanwhile, sweeping cuts made to grants supporting research on children’s chemical exposure—including the disheartening realities of the “Make America Healthy Again” initiative—diminish opportunities for advocacy regarding increased funding and regulation of lead pollution.

These issues impact us all

As someone actively engaged in public health research, defending science and its role in policy, these matters occupy my thoughts daily, and I consider it a privilege. However, this goes beyond my profession; the systematic dismantling of our scientific and democratic institutions influences our daily lives and those of our families. While these actions chiefly target the most vulnerable, the repercussions resonate across society. Authoritarianism diminishes safety in our communities, exacerbates financial strains, complicates healthcare access, and hinders our capacity to flourish while supporting our families and neighborhoods. This situation is overwhelming and utterly unacceptable.

Not everyone has the time to investigate how public policies shape their daily lives (though we strive to simplify this at UCS). Nor should we have to continually remind those in positions of power of their obligation to serve the public, not self-interest.

While we cannot tackle every issue simultaneously, we can initiate change on one front. Here are several suggestions:

• Engage with mutual aid organizations within your community.
• Request that your elected representatives maintain critical funding for programs designed to protect our health and safety.
• Encourage your Congress members to co-sponsor the Scientific Integrity Act. If passed, this legislation would solidify protections for science and scientists, making it harder for political interference in science-driven decisions that affect our day-to-day existence.