Trump’s Mass Firing Deals Another Blow to American Science

The past week delivered another significant blow to science in the US, as the Trump administration executed a mass firing of all 22 members of the National Science Board (NSB). This board is the key oversight body for the National Science Foundation (NSF), a federal agency responsible for funding major research projects to the tune of approximately $9 billion annually. This drastic action follows a period of instability, with the NSF lacking a permanent director since April 2025 after former director Sethuraman Panchanathan stepped down amidst funding cuts and previous mass firings. The current nominee for the director role, Jim O’Neill, an investor and longevity enthusiast, has raised concerns due to his lack of a scientific background. The NSF, established in 1950 with the primary goal of "promoting the progress of science," has historically been a cornerstone of support for research and education across the United States. In 2024, the agency allocated $9.39 billion to these efforts, a substantial sum despite representing only 0.1% of total federal spending. The National Science Board played a crucial role in determining how these funds were utilized, establishing NSF policies, authorizing significant expenditures, and providing essential oversight. As physicist and astronomer Keivan Stassun, who was appointed to the board in late 2022, emphasizes, it was "a relatively small group with a tremendous amount of responsibility and authority." Stassun recounted receiving an email last Friday informing him: "On behalf of President Trump, this letter is to notify you that your position as a member of the National Science Board is terminated effective immediately. Thank you for your service." While deeply disappointing, Stassun admitted he wasn't surprised, given the administration's pattern of actions across federal science agencies since early 2025. Over the past year, the NSF, alongside many other agencies, has seen grants frozen, unfrozen, and terminated, none of which involved the board. Furthermore, agency staff numbers have reportedly plummeted by 40%, with board members having no say in these firings either. The administration's impact extends beyond personnel changes. In its 2026 budget request, it sought to slash the NSF’s budget by a staggering 57%, a proposal that Congress ultimately rejected earlier this year. However, according to Stassun, the ongoing grant terminations and staff firings are effectively allowing these cuts to take effect regardless. He noted that "The funds that the White House has been dispersing to the agency… have been far less than what Congress intended." This has led to the stagnation of many ambitious research projects, including the US Extremely Large Telescope Program, which "appears to be dead in the water for now," and the NSF arm dedicated to science education, which "has effectively zeroed out." Despite these broad setbacks, the administration's 2027 budget request does highlight specific areas for continued focus. While it states that the NSF will "close out" its directorate for social, behavioral, and economic sciences, it identifies AI and quantum information science as key "frontier initiatives" and biotechnology as a "focal point." This aligns with Jim O’Neill’s known interests; O’Neill, the unconfirmed nominee for NSF director, identifies as a "Vitalist," a strong proponent of extending human longevity. His lack of a scientific background, however, continues to be a source of concern for many in the scientific community, as the administration now operates the agency without the checks and balances of a governance body.