Public Rally Supports Hamilton, Montana’s Rocky Mountain Lab Scientists Laid Off Because of Federal Budget Cuts

Federal budget cuts led to layoffs at Hamilton’s Rocky Mountain Laboratories.

On June 26, 2025, community members and scientists gathered outside the lab to support employees affected by recent funding reductions. The rally coincided with a site visit from a National Institute of Health official, underscoring the lab’s critical role in biomedical research since 1937.

In early May, 41 employees were laid off or had contracts canceled due to federal budget cuts. Organizers Bill and Becky Peters, alongside Indivisible Bitterroot, emphasized the lab’s importance locally and globally, highlighting the millions of lives saved by research conducted there. The event aimed to raise awareness and demonstrate solidarity beyond political lines.

Montana’s economy and communities could feel the ripple effects of such budget cuts given the lab’s longstanding presence and scientific contributions. Local businesses and workers tied to the facility might face uncertainty, making community support a vital factor in sustaining this research hub in a rural region.

Rally supports Rocky Mountain Lab scientists
By Caroline Weiss, KPAX News