The Trump administration’s meddling in science agencies has sparked a staff revolt
National Science Foundation (NSF) workers are blowing the whistle on political interference that’s threatening the agency’s integrity and mission.
Alexa Robles-Gil reports for The New York Times.
In short:
- More than 140 NSF staffers signed a letter, mostly anonymously, warning Congress that the Trump administration is dismantling the agency by firing employees, killing research grants, and slashing the budget by over 50%.
- The protest mirrors recent letters from National Institutes of Health (NIH) and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency employees raising alarms about politically motivated orders and retaliatory suspensions, with many fearing long-term damage to public health and science.
- One major grievance is the forced relocation of the NSF headquarters, alongside a covert “ideological” grant review process that undermines peer review and stifles innovation in STEM research and education.
Key quote:
“Unfortunately the damage, the dismantling of NIH, NSF, EPA and others is having already immediate effects on people, and there will be also irreparable long-term effects.”
— Dr. Jesus Soriano, president of the American Federation of Government Employees Local 3403
Why this matters:
Science agencies like the NSF some of the most foundational research in climate science, clean energy, public health, and environmental protection. Undermining that mission chips away at the ability to prepare for the next pandemic or tackle the climate crisis with real data and solutions. It could take years, even decades, to undo the damage.
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