The following is a statement from AAU President Barbara R. Snyder on the announcement this morning that HUD will be taking over the NSF headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia:
The announced takeover of the National Science Foundation headquarters by the Department of Housing and Urban Development is a deeply misguided move that is an affront to our national priorities and a blow to our global competitiveness.
The abrupt move will displace more than 1,800 NSF employees and further destabilize the U.S. research ecosystem, which is already under strain because of ongoing funding uncertainties, halted and disrupted science work at federal agencies, and budget cuts. It threatens the continuity of the Gold Standard Science to which the Trump administration has committed, and which NSF employees conduct on behalf of all Americans to keep our nation ahead of competitors such as China.
According to today’s press conference, there is currently no plan for where NSF will relocate. This sudden decision – which was not coordinated in any way with NSF officials – would seem to leave the NSF without a home and sends the message that America no longer values science or its scientific workforce; it is an ill-conceived misuse of taxpayer dollars and will jeopardize the scientific breakthroughs that drive our health, economy, and national security. I urge the administration to promptly identify an appropriate home for the National Science Foundation so that the critical work of the approximately 1,800 dedicated NSF public servants on behalf of the American people can continue uninterrupted.
Founded in 1900, the Association of American Universities is composed of America’s leading research universities. AAU’s 71 research universities transform lives through education, research, and innovation.
Our member universities earn the majority of competitively awarded federal funding for research that improves public health, seeks to address national challenges, and contributes significantly to our economic strength, while educating and training tomorrow’s visionary leaders and innovators.
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