“Stand up for Science” protest rallies sprung up across the nation Friday, including at the Colorado Capitol building and in Boulder.

The protesters were opposed to staff cuts to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and other federal agencies.

President Donald Trump has tasked the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and his Cabinet with rooting out what the White House described as “waste, bloat and insularity” in the federal bureaucracy. In particular, the White House is targeting positions that perform functions “not mandated by statute or other law,” with specific emphasis on dismantling “diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.”

Robbin Patton, a pathology professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, spent the last five days visiting family on vacation in Steamboat Springs, Colo. She made sure to leave vacation early today to get back to the capitol in Denver in time to join hundreds of other scientists, medical professionals and more gathered to protest recent moves by the Trump administration deemed “anti-science” by the group.

In particular, recent cuts to medical research budgets, layoffs at several public agencies including researchers at NOAA and more were on protesters minds.

Former Denver7 meteorologist of 20 years, Mike Nelson, was one of speakers at the Denver protest. Last year, Nelson used his final address to his Denver7 audience, where he was chief meteorologist since 2004, to discuss greenhouse gas emissions’ warming effects on the planet.

Other speakers included State Sen. Lisa Cutter, D-Littleton, who told protesters to continue to speak out.

“You know that would you say and what you do and what you advocate for matters… Everybody together is going to make a difference,” Cutter said.