The small town of Hamilton, Montana is facing economic uncertainty and social division following a wave of federal workforce cuts that have impacted one of the region’s largest employers: Rocky Mountain Laboratories, a federally funded research facility operated by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Situated in the scenic Bitterroot Valley, Hamilton’s population of 5,000 is grappling with job losses, stalled scientific research, and a growing rift between local residents and the scientific community that has long anchored the town’s economy.
A Federal Footprint in a Conservative Town
Rocky Mountain Labs has been embedded in Hamilton for over a century, initially helping fight tick-borne diseases like Rocky Mountain spotted fever. In recent decades, it grew into one of the country’s leading centers for infectious disease research, drawing scientists from across the globe.
Despite its national prestige, the lab’s presence in a traditionally conservative, working-class town has always been a source of tension. Some locals have expressed skepticism over the lab’s research and its employees, a divide that intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic and has deepened with recent federal budget changes.
The Cuts Begin to Bite
Since early May, more than 40 Rocky Mountain Labs employees have been laid off or informed their contracts will end this summer. At least nine others have opted for early retirement. These changes follow the Trump administration’s restructuring of the Department of Health and Human Services and broader efforts by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to reduce federal spending.
The administration has proposed eliminating up to 1,200 NIH jobs and cutting the agency’s budget by 40%, calling past investments in scientific research “wasteful” and “ideologically driven.”
“We’re beginning to see what ‘going wild’ looks like,” said retired NIH scientist Kim Hasenkrug, referencing former President Trump’s comment about giving current HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. free rein over public health policy.
Hamilton Fights Back
In April, more than 200 residents rallied in downtown Hamilton with signs reading “Hands Off Federal Workers” and “Stop Strangling Science.” Some drivers cheered in support; others responded with insults and political chants. The protests reflected deepening polarization in a town already marked by a mix of pride and suspicion toward the lab.
Hamilton’s City Council sent a formal letter to federal authorities in April requesting prior consultation for any further workforce reductions. As of late May, the town had not received a response.
Local Economy on Edge
Federal jobs have long been an economic pillar in Hamilton, especially since the decline of the logging industry. The lab supports not just research but also contractors, supply vendors, and local businesses ranging from construction firms to cafes. A 2023 University of Montana study credited the lab with helping sustain the broader regional economy.
But layoffs are already being felt. Real estate listings are increasing, according to former lab researcher and now city councilor Darwin Ernst, who said many families are leaving town after losing jobs.
“Someone recently left with her entire family. Because of the layoffs, they couldn’t afford to live here,” he said.
Uncertain Future for Science and Staff
Remaining staff at Rocky Mountain Labs say they’re struggling to acquire supplies, complete research, or plan experiments. A change in procurement protocols has slowed down purchases of specialized materials such as antibodies and lab equipment.
Younger scientists, particularly postdoctoral fellows, face shrinking career prospects. At least one has already relocated overseas to continue infectious disease work, citing “current turmoil” in Hamilton.
“The remaining staff feel discredited and discouraged from continuing public service,” said Hasenkrug.
A History of Distrust
Distrust between locals and the federal lab dates back to its founding. In the early 1900s, researchers sought to stop the spread of spotted fever by chemically treating ranchers’ cattle — a move that sparked such local outrage that one treatment vat was bombed and another destroyed.
That spirit of anti-government skepticism still runs deep in Ravalli County, where nearly 70% of voters backed Donald Trump in 2024. During the pandemic, local officials refused to enforce state mask mandates, even as Rocky Mountain Labs was working to understand the virus.
Community Division and Resilience
Some residents, like longtime Hamilton resident Jane Shigley, say they initially supported the idea of streamlining federal spending — but are now worried about the consequences.
“Something’s going on that we can’t control,” she said. “And the people it’s happening to aren’t allowed to talk to us about it.”
Still, others remain hopeful. Julie Foster, head of the Ravalli County Economic Development Authority, said she believes the town will weather the storm, just as it did when the timber industry declined.
“There may be bumps in the road, but this is a resilient place,” she said.
Even amid staff cuts, researchers at Rocky Mountain Labs recently made a scientific breakthrough by identifying a species of Lyme-disease-carrying tick in Montana for the first time — a reminder that their work, and their presence, still matters.
Do you live in a town impacted by federal job cuts or scientific downsizing?
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Sources
- GPB News: https://www.gpb.org/news/2025/05/26/small-montana-town-grapples-the-fallouts-federal-worker-cuts
- NIH Mission: https://www.nih.gov/about-nih/what-we-do/mission-goals
- Ravalli County Economic Development: https://rceda.org
- Global BioLabs Report: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/warstudies/assets/global-biolabs-report-2023.pdf
