Trump's firing of National Science Board is seen as attack on research : NPR
NPR • • nation
Key Points:
- The White House abruptly terminated all 22 members of the National Science Foundation (NSF) board via email, raising concerns about the independence of federal science grant decisions amid the Trump administration's push for deep NSF budget cuts.
- The administration justified the dismissals by citing a 2021 Supreme Court case questioning the authority of non-Senate confirmed appointees, but legal experts found this rationale confusing and unconvincing.
- Fired board members and scientists worry the move could politicize the NSF, prioritizing short-term administration goals over long-term, merit-based scientific research critical to national innovation.
- The Trump administration's preliminary 2026 budget seeks to cut more than half of the NSF’s $9 billion budget and has rescinded thousands of approved grants, intensifying fears of undermining U.S. leadership in science and technology.
- Lawmakers expressed divided views, with Democrats condemning the firing as an attack on science and Republicans emphasizing alignment with executive priorities, while some scientists accept government control over funding decisions.
