Dread and shock gave way to confusion and uncertainty. Attacks on climate and environmental science by Donald Trump's administration have been ongoing in the US. At the same time, legal proceedings have countered some of their effects. "The situation right now is incredibly confusing and chaotic," said Rachel Cleetus, climate and energy program policy director at the Union of Concerned Scientists. "It's having an extremely detrimental and chilling effect on the vital work of federal government scientists."

Hundreds of researchers who had been laid off were reinstated last week. This about-face follows two court rulings that saw nearly 25,000 employees on probationary contracts reinstated, across 18 federal agencies. The vast majority of them were immediately placed on administrative leave – which, for most, consisted of paid leave – until the legal proceedings, which were extended by the Trump administration's decision to appeal the ruling, were concluded.

"It's confusing and it hampers our research," said Sarah Cooley, Ocean Acidification Program director at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), who had just been reinstated and placed on indefinite leave. She said she was "grateful that my financial worries are alleviated for now," but expected to be included in an upcoming downsizing plan. David Die, the NOAA's Highly Migratory Species Branch leader, who has also been re-hired, was equally perplexed by the changes. "I'm still looking for work elsewhere," he said.

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