NEW YORK — The Trump administration has abruptly terminated the membership of the National Science Board, the independent advisory body that oversees the National Science Foundation (NSF).
On Friday, members of the National Science Board were notified by an email from the Presidential Personnel Office sent “on behalf of President Donald J. Trump,” saying their positions were “terminated, effective immediately.” The current board—22 members rather than the traditional 25—was preparing to meet next week and was finalizing a report assessing the state of U.S. science.
Who Was Affected
All members of the standing 22-person board were dismissed, according to terminated member Yolanda Gil of the Information Sciences Institute at the University of Southern California. Board member Keivan Stassun of Vanderbilt University called the move “enormously disappointing” but said he was not entirely surprised.
Role Of The Board
The National Science Board, created in 1950, advises the president and Congress on science and engineering policy, approves major funding awards, and helps set the strategic direction for NSF. Board members are normally presidential appointees who serve staggered six-year terms and come from academia and industry across fields such as astronomy, mathematics, chemistry and aerospace engineering.
Concerns And Reactions
Democrats and scientists warned the dismissals could pave the way for steep budget reductions at NSF. Sen. Maria Cantwell, the top Democrat on the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, called the action “a dangerous attack on the institutions and expertise that drive American innovation and discovery.”
“It could eviscerate investments in fundamental research and in the training of the next generation of scientists and engineers for our nation,” said Keivan Stassun.
The Trump administration previously proposed cutting the NSF’s roughly $9 billion budget by more than half; Congress ultimately preserved most NSF funding last year, but similarly deep cuts have reportedly been under consideration for the coming year. Several observers said removing the advisory board could make it easier to pursue such reductions.
Operational Changes
The foundation’s headquarters was also moved to a smaller building; last year the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced plans to occupy NSF’s former headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia. The National Science Foundation referred requests for comment to the White House, which did not immediately respond.
Context: The board’s abrupt dismissal, the pending budget debate, and the headquarters relocation have raised concerns among researchers and lawmakers about the future of federal support for basic scientific research and workforce training.
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