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3d ago

NSF Faces Leadership Void as Budget Cuts and Research Terminations Reshape Agency

Director Sethuraman Panchanathan resigns, leaving the NSF grappling with deep funding cuts, layoffs, and political directives altering research priorities.

National Science Foundation Director Sethuraman Panchanathan testifies during a Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation hearing in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 4, 2023. (Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)
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Overview

  • NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan resigned on April 24, leaving 16 months before the end of his term, as the agency faces unprecedented challenges.
  • The Trump administration, with oversight from Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has proposed a 55% budget cut and plans to reduce the NSF workforce by half.
  • The NSF has already canceled active grants totaling $1 billion, including $230 million in research on topics such as misinformation, diversity, and environmental justice, citing shifts in agency priorities.
  • The January 20 executive order on 'restoring freedom of speech' prompted the NSF to halt funding for misinformation research, citing concerns over free speech rights.
  • Researchers and stakeholders warn that the abrupt changes and political directives are disrupting the agency’s operations and could harm U.S. scientific competitiveness.