Major government research lab appears to be squeezing out foreign scientists

"A NIST employee tells WIRED that some plans to bring on foreign workers through the agency's Professional Research and Experience Program have recently been canceled because of uncertainty about whether they would make it through the new security protocols. The staffer, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media, says the agency has yet to widely communicate what the new hurdles will be or why it believes they are justified."

"Jennifer Huergo, a spokesperson for NIST, tells WIRED that the proposed changes are aimed at protecting US science from theft and abuse, echoing a similar statement issued this week to other media outlets. Huergo declined to comment on who needs to approve the proposal for it to be finalized and when a decision will be made. She also didn't immediately respond to a request for comment on the lawmakers' letter."

"Preventing foreign adversaries from stealing valuable American intellectual property has been a bipartisan priority, with NIST among the agencies in recent years to receive congressional scrutiny about the adequacy of its background checks and security policies. Just last month, Republican lawmakers renewed calls to put restrictions in place preventing Chinese nationals from working at or with national labs run by the Department of Energy."

The Trump administration has begun taking steps to limit foreign-born researchers' ability to conduct work at NIST. Some plans to hire foreign workers through the agency's Professional Research and Experience Program were canceled due to uncertainty about new security protocols. NIST states the proposed changes aim to protect US science from theft and abuse but has not clarified approval processes or decision timelines. Congressional scrutiny of NIST background checks and security policies has increased, and Republican lawmakers have renewed calls to restrict Chinese nationals at Department of Energy national labs. A lawmaker contends the restrictions exceed reasonable measures and demands transparency and a pause until Congress can assess necessity.

Read at Ars Technica