Over 140 researchers at the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) have joined forces to condemn the Trump administration’s handling of science policy, marking an unprecedented stand in the agency’s history.
The group delivered a letter on Monday to Zoe Lofgren, ranking member of the U.S. House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, accusing the administration of abrupt staff terminations, withholding critical research funding and a series of “politically motivated” and “legally questionable” actions that threaten the agency’s mission.
Fearing retaliation, all but one signatory chose to remain anonymous. Yet their unified message is clear: undermining the NSF’s civil service protections jeopardizes research that underpins national prosperity and security.
Key demands from the letter include:
- Restoring critical research funding.
- Reaffirming NSF’s scientific independence.
- Protecting the agency’s workforce from political interference.
This protest follows a wave of dissent at other top U.S. science agencies, with staff from the National Institutes of Health and the Environmental Protection Agency issuing similar letters, and NASA scientists signing the Voyager Declaration. Experts say these actions signal a growing crisis of confidence among federal researchers.
For a globally connected audience—from tech innovators tracking R&D budgets to young professionals championing evidence-based policy—this upheaval highlights how political decisions in Washington can reverberate through labs and startups worldwide.
As Congress weighs its response, this campaign by NSF employees underscores the vital role of transparent science funding in driving breakthroughs, from climate research to digital innovation, that shape our collective future.
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U.S. science agency members protest against Trump's science policies
cgtn.com
