By Rob Marus
The recent news that President Trump notified all 22 members of the National Science Board that they were being dismissed, effective immediately, has caused alarm in the scientific community because of the body’s unique role in leading the National Science Foundation – one of the world’s premiere research-funding agencies.
AAU President Barbara R. Snyder, noting that the NSF has also been without a director for more than a year, said that the dismissals are compounding the NSF’s challenges “at the very time when clear direction and strategic oversight for the NSF are essential to maintaining America’s global scientific leadership.” She added: “At a time when China is investing heavily in science and has matched or surpassed the United States in several key fields, dismantling the NSB’s independent voice sends exactly the wrong signal.”
What is the NSB and what do does it do? Here are a few key facts about the body:
- It was established, along with NSF itself, by the NSF Act of 1950, as the co-governing body for the independent agency.
- Under that legislation, the NSB is vested with authority to establish the policies of the NSF, operating within the framework of national policies established by Congress and the president. As such, it is responsible for overseeing NSF’s activities, as well as advising Congress and the president on national science policy.
- Its 25 members (two positions, plus the NSF director, who serves on the board ex officio, were already vacant at the time of the dismissals) meet several times a year to review and approve major NSF grant awards, programs, provide strategic budget direction, and approve the foundation’s annual budget submission to the Office of Management and Budget.
- The NSB has a formal advisory role to both the legislative and executive branches. Under 42 U.S.C. § 1863(j), the board must submit a biennial report to the president and Congress on indicators of the state of science and engineering in the United States. The NSB may also issue reports on specific science and engineering policy matters at its own initiative or at the request of Congress or the president. The board was reportedly scheduled to have been in the final stages of readying a public report on the state of science in the United States when its members were dismissed.
- Historically, given that each member serves a six-year term and term cycles are staggered, the board has provided continuity across administrations, providing a level of stability critical for supporting the highest-quality curiosity-driven research.
As AAU Deputy Vice President for Government Relations and Public Policy Cate Johnson noted, the board also serves the crucial function of providing advice on, and approval of, “major research equipment and facilities projects.” She noted that, as China continues to challenge the United States’ global scientific leadership, “the thought of these projects being on ice until the administration nominates and confirms 25 new members [of the NSB] is very concerning.”
The move comes as the NSF was already facing significant challenges. Its former director resigned more than a year ago and has not been replaced by a permanent successor. Last year, the administration requested cutting the agency’s budget by more than half; while Congress declined to do so, the presidential budget request for FY27 again proposed more than a 50% cut to the agency.
Rob Marus is deputy vice president for communications at AAU.