Brian Babin

📍 Office

2236 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515

📞 (202) 225-1555

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On April 24, the White House emails all 22 seated members of the National Science Board a terse notice: "on behalf of President Donald J. Trump, I am writing to inform you that your position as a member of the National Science Board is terminated, effective immediately." No explanation is given. Members learn of the firings individually; the White House makes no public announcement. The NSB, established by Congress in the National Science Foundation Act of 1950, advises Congress and the President on policy for the National Science Foundation — the roughly $9 billion agency that funds basic scientific research at more than 1,900 institutions. Members are appointed by the president to staggered six-year terms and required by statute to be "eminent" in scientific fields. Some fired members had been appointed by Trump in his first term. The White House later offers a justification citing the 2021 Supreme Court decision United States v. Arthrex, claiming it raised questions about whether non-Senate-confirmed appointees can exercise the authorities Congress gave the board. Board members had been preparing a report on the United States ceding scientific ground to China, set for release at the May 5 meeting. The administration had already proposed cutting the NSF budget by more than half and cancelled over 1,600 NSF grants under DOGE.