The Trump administration has terminated the entire National Science Board, removing all 22 members effective immediately.
Board members were notified of their ouster via email on Friday. According to former members Yolanda Gil and Keivan Stassun, the administration provided no reason for the dismissals.
Impact on the National Science Board
Established in 1950, the independent board was created to guide the governance of the National Science Foundation and advise Congress and the president on science and engineering policies.
The board consisted of 22 members appointed to six-year terms. While the majority of members were academics, the body also included representatives from industry, non-profits, and national labs.
Political experts suggest the administration is attempting to remake independent institutions by removing critical voices and installing loyalists in leadership positions.
Keivan Stassun, a member from Vanderbilt University, expressed disappointment and noted that similar actions across the federal government made the move seem inevitable.
White House Response
The National Science Foundation directed all questions regarding the terminations to the White House.
A White House official stated that the authorities granted to the board by Congress may need updating. The official further asserted that the National Science Foundation’s work “continues uninterrupted.”
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