"Some 1,500 members of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, Medicine and Engineering on Monday denounced the White House's dismissal of the National Science Board (NSB) longstanding expert board that oversees the National Science Foundation (NSF). The NSB was fired without notice on April 24. In the open letter, the signatorieswho include 37 Nobel prize winnerssaid the NSB's firing was an alarming attack on the ability of the US to engage in basic and applied research. They called on Congress to oppose the move."
"Since 1950, the NSF has funded U.S. basic research, from astronomy to vulcanology, under guidance of the board which has historically been filled with eminent scientists. The board is designed to be apolitical and members are appointed to six-year terms by the president. It is required by statute to approve the NSF's budget, which was $9 billion in 2026. However, the White House said last year that those decisions will now be made by political appointees."
"The administration has also moved to cut the NSF's budget by about 50 percent in 2027 and dissolve its social sciences arm. Despite Congress overriding similar calls from the administration in January, NSF had largely stalled its distribution of grants into April, according to Nature. Four agency civil servants, speaking anonymously to Scientific American due to fear of retribution, say funding has largely been held up except for seemingly favored research into artificial intelligence, quantum computing and related technologies."
"The board's ouster comes amid a purge of independent scientific and research groups whose purpose is to advise the federal government's science and health policies. Other moves include Health and Human Services"
About 1,500 members of the U.S. National Academies denounced the White House’s dismissal of the National Science Board, which oversees the National Science Foundation. The board was fired without notice on April 24. An open letter signed by 37 Nobel prize winners said the action threatens the nation’s ability to conduct basic and applied research and urged Congress to oppose the move. The NSF has funded U.S. basic research since 1950 under guidance of the board, which is intended to be apolitical and serves six-year terms. The board approves the NSF budget, but the White House said decisions would shift to political appointees and proposed major NSF cuts and dissolution of its social sciences arm. Grant distribution has largely stalled, with funding reportedly continuing mainly for favored areas like artificial intelligence and quantum computing.
#us-science-policy #national-science-foundation #national-science-board #research-funding #political-appointees
Read at www.scientificamerican.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]