In a significant act of dissent, more than 140 employees of the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) have signed a letter condemning the Trump administration’s approach to science policy. The letter, sent on Monday to Representative Zoe Lofgren, ranking member of the U.S. House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, accuses the administration of undermining one of the nation’s premier scientific funding institutions.
The group of scientists alleges that the administration has abruptly terminated staff, withheld critical research funding, and slashed the NSF’s budget. Citing fears of retaliation, all but one of the signatories chose to remain anonymous.
The employees expressed deep concern over what they describe as “politically motivated” and “legally questionable” actions that threaten the integrity of the NSF and undermine civil service protections guaranteed under federal law. They are calling on Congress to defend the NSF’s mission and workforce, reaffirm its scientific independence, and maintain support for research that is vital to national prosperity and security.
This protest follows similar actions taken last month by scientists and staff at the National Institutes of Health and employees at the Environmental Protection Agency. Additionally, the recent Voyager Declaration was signed by current and former scientists of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
Experts note that these collective actions represent an unprecedented wave of dissent among U.S. federal scientific employees. The growing movement highlights the tensions between the scientific community and the administration over the future of science policy in the country.
