AAU and others urge the Senate HELP Committee to promptly hold a confirmation hearing for James O’Neill to lead NSF, citing the agency’s critical role, recent leadership instability, and the need for a Senate-confirmed director to articulate priorities and restore stability.
Dear Chairman Cassidy, Ranking Member Sanders, and Members of the HELP Committee,
The organizations listed below respectfully urge the Committee to schedule a confirmation hearing for James O'Neill, the President's nominee to serve as Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF), without delay and ahead of a vote. The hearing process serves a vital function, providing Senators and the broader scientific community and public with the opportunity to learn more about the nominee and his vision for NSF. Although Mr. O'Neill was previously confirmed by this Committee for a position at Health and Human Services, the NSF Director position is fundamentally different, thereby requiring a hearing.
NSF represents one of the federal government's most consequential investments in America's future. With a budget of $8.75 billion in fiscal year (FY) 2026, NSF funds basic research and science and engineering education across virtually every field of study. The discoveries it supports form the foundational layer upon which private-sector innovation is built — from medical and agricultural advances to technologies such as semiconductors, the internet, and GPS. NSF-supported research not only generates substantial returns to the broader economy but also trains the future workforce. Maintaining American leadership in science and technology and strengthening our national security depends on the health of this agency.
The NSF Director sets the scientific and strategic priorities of the agency, represents NSF before Congress and the scientific community, and serves as a steward of public trust that undergirds federal investment in research. The six-year term of the NSF Director provides the kind of institutional stability and insulation from short-term political pressures that fundamental research requires. In short, the person occupying this role matters enormously.
For more than a year, NSF has been led on an acting basis by its Chief of Staff — a dedicated public servant who has ably led the agency, but without the statutory authority, the mandate, or the full institutional standing that a Senate-confirmed Director carries. During this period of leadership uncertainty, NSF has faced significant disruptions, the departure of more than 30 percent of its staff, the relocation of its headquarters, and the troubling recent dismissal of all members of the National Science Board. The agency and America’s scientific enterprise urgently need Congressional support and a confirmed and accountable leader. The questions surrounding NSF's direction — its funding priorities and its commitment to supporting the full breadth of fundamental research — deserve genuine examination by Congress. A confirmation hearing is precisely the venue for these questions.
We are eager to hear how Mr. O’Neill plans to keep America at the forefront of international scientific leadership. We urge a prompt confirmation hearing for Mr. O’Neill. We appreciate the Committee's attention to this matter and are grateful for your continued stewardship of the nation's science and education policy.