The Donald Trump administration on Friday, 24 April, dismissed members of an independent board overseeing the National Science Foundation, which funds a large share of publicly supported scientific research in the United States. According to a report by The Washington Post, members of the National Science Board were dismissed via a message from the Presidential Personnel Office thanking them for their service. The notice stated: “On behalf of Donald Trump, I am writing to inform you that your position as a member of the National Science Board is terminated, effective immediately.” What is the National Science Board? According to Forbes, the National Science Board is not widely known outside research circles, but it plays a central role in shaping US science policy. Created under the National Science Foundation Act of 1950, the board works alongside the National Science Foundation (NSF) director to set strategy, approve major programmes and guide the distribution of nearly $9 billion in federal research funding. Why it matters? Forbes notes that the dismissal puts at risk the institutional structure that has underpinned American scientific leadership for decades. The board’s role in long-term planning and oversight is considered crucial to maintaining innovation, technological development and global competitiveness. Pattern of reshaping advisory bodies The Washington Post reports that the dismissals are part of a broader trend of restructuring scientific advisory panels under the Trump administration, with similar changes seen across other policy bodies in recent years. Sharp political reaction Zoe Lofgren, the ranking member of the House Science Committee, criticised the decision. He said, “This is the latest stupid move made by a president who continues to harm science and American innovation. The NSB is apolitical. It advises the president on the future of NSF. It unfortunately is no surprise a president who has attacked NSF from day one would seek to destroy the board that helps guide the Foundation.”
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