The Folly of Trump Taking a “Wrecking Ball” to a Crucial Science Advisory Board
President Donald Trump's administration dismissed all 22 members of the National Science Board, an independent advisory body overseeing the National Science Foundation, sparking concern among scientists about political interference in science. The board plays a critical role in guiding U.S. science policy and research funding across key disciplines, and its removal has raised fears of diminished scientific integrity and long-term harm to American innovation. The White House cited a Supreme Court ruling as justification, claiming constitutional concerns over appointment procedures, while critics view the move as part of a broader pattern of undermining scientific institutions.
- ▪President Donald Trump dismissed all 22 members of the National Science Board effective immediately, replacing their listings on the NSF website with 'pending new appointments'.
- ▪The National Science Board advises Congress and the president on science policy and oversees the National Science Foundation, a major funder of academic research in the United States.
- ▪Experts including Jacquelyn Gill and Geraldine Richmond expressed alarm that the board may be replaced by politically loyal appointees lacking scientific expertise.
- ▪The White House cited a 2021 Supreme Court ruling on administrative patent judges as raising constitutional questions about the board’s appointment process.
- ▪Scientists and organizations like the Union of Concerned Scientists warn the move could erode public trust in science and damage U.S. competitiveness in research and education.
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freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: "motherjones_right_rail_1", slotId: "ROS_ATF_300x600" }); The National Science Foundation headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia.Alex Wong/Getty/Inside Climate News Get your news from a source that’s not owned and controlled by oligarchs. Sign up for the free Mother Jones Daily. This story was originally published by Inside Climate News and is reproduced here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration. Since the start of his second term last year, President Donald Trump has sought to weaken the federal foundations underpinning American science, slashing or stalling research funding, firing or pushing out thousands of scientists, canceling grants for ideological reasons and shuttering research facilities across the country.
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