Overview
- The White House confirmed it removed all 22 National Science Board members, citing constitutional questions raised by the 2021 U.S. v. Arthrex decision.
- Emails sent from the White House informed members their roles were terminated effective immediately, according to copies and accounts from Roger Beachy, Keivan Stassun, and Willie May.
- Officials say the National Science Foundation’s work continues without interruption and they plan to work with Congress to update the law that governs the board.
- Scientific groups and Democratic lawmakers warn the purge erases nonpartisan oversight and could open the door to greater political sway over which research gets funded.
- The National Science Board helps set policy and oversee the roughly $9 billion National Science Foundation, which awards thousands of research grants each year.