US EditionTrump administration fires National Science Board members
The dismissals could ease proposed deep cuts to the National Science Foundation, while White House officials cite a 2021 Supreme Court ruling.
- On Friday, April 24, 2026, the White House terminated all members of the National Science Board, the independent body governing the $9 billion National Science Foundation, via boilerplate emails offering no explanation.
- Established by the National Science Foundation Act of 1950, the board provides independent guidance to the president and Congress through staggered six-year terms designed to maintain continuity across political administrations.
- Members received emails from the Presidential Personnel Office stating positions were "terminated, effective immediately" with no stated reason. Democratic Rep. Zoe Lofgren called the decision "the latest stupid move made by a president who continues to harm science and American innovation."
- The purge removes independent oversight of the NSF's $9 billion budget, potentially enabling the administration's proposed nearly 55% funding cut while the agency remains without a Senate-confirmed director.
- Critics warn the removal signals a shift toward political control of science funding just as China outpaced the United States in research spending for the first time, according to late-March data showing China spent $1.03 trillion versus the U.S. $1.01 trillion in 2024.
125 Articles
125 Articles
Trump Takes a ‘Wrecking Ball’ to Independent Scientific Advisory Board
Without the impartial oversight of its board, the National Science Foundation is now “fully at the behest of the White House,” experts warn.By Kiley BenseSince the start of his second term last year, President Donald Trump has sought to weaken the federal foundations underpinning American science, slashing or stalling research funding, firing or pushing out thousands of scientists, canceling grants for ideological reasons and shuttering research…
'Your Position Has Been Terminated' — President Trump Fires Entire ....
The Trump administration has terminated multiple members of the National Science Foundation’s governing board, according to a report from The Washington Post. The move has raised concerns among scientists and lawmakers about the future direction of the agency. Members of the National Science Board received notices from the White House Presidential Personnel Office informing them their roles were ending immediately, The Hill reported. “On behalf …
Trump Shakes Up the National Science Board — Minding The Campus
The National Science Board (NSB) oversees the operations of the National Science Foundation, which was established in 1950 to fund basic science in universities. It consists of 24 members appointed to six-year terms. On April 24 2026, President Trump terminated the appointments of all 24 members. Cue the gnashing of teeth and the rending of […] The post Trump Shakes Up the National Science Board appeared first on Minding The Campus.
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