The National Science Foundation will cut up to half its workforce by April, threatening America’s largest basic research funding program.
Engineering Directorate head Susan Margulies announced the cuts Tuesday, telling staff the agency must eliminate 25% to 50% of positions.
The Trump administration’s push to shrink federal agencies has prompted the reductions. Federal employees must decide by Thursday whether to accept departure packages, despite former officials questioning their legal standing.
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The Office of Personnel Management defended the changes. “The government is restructuring, and unfortunately, many employees will later realize they missed a valuable, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity in the deferred resignation offer,” a spokesperson said.
The cuts could cripple NSF’s ability to manage its $10 billion research portfolio supporting science and engineering projects nationwide. The General Services Administration also faces similar staffing reductions.
NSF staff members warn the cuts will damage US scientific leadership. “This will gut the intellectual center of US leadership in science and technology,” one program manager said, speaking anonymously due to job security concerns.
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