National Science Foundation Director Resigns
Sethuraman Panchanathan, director of the National Science Foundation (NSF), resigned on Thursday after more than five years at the helm of the agency responsible for distributing billions of dollars in scientific research funding.
'I believe that I have done all I can to advance the mission of the agency and feel that it is time to pass the baton to new leadership,' Panchanathan, appointed by President Donald Trump in 2019 and confirmed by the Senate in 2020 to a six-year term, wrote in his
Brian Stone, Panchanathan's chief of staff, will serve as an interim director until a permanent successor is appointed.
While Panchanathan did not offer a detailed explanation for his departure, it comes amid an internal overhaul at the NSF. The agency has recently laid off staff, canceled grants, and imposed travel restrictions, as part of a wider effort across the federal government to get rid of bloat and reduce spending.
'This is a pivotal moment for our nation in terms of global competitiveness,' his letter reads. 'A thoughtful approach to efficiencies and investments is incredibly important.'
Last week, the NSF announced sweeping changes to its research funding priorities, aligning with the Trump administration's orders to stop federal dollars from flowing into diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives that run afoul of federal anti-discrimination laws.
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As part of that shift, the NSF terminated funding for projects aimed at increasing participation of women and racial minorities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), stating that such efforts no longer align with the agency's mission.
'Research projects with more narrow impact limited to subgroups of people based on protected class or characteristics do not effectuate NSF priorities,' Panchanathan said in a
An accompanying FAQ further clarified the NSF's revised policy, noting that the agency 'will not support research with the goal of combating 'misinformation,' 'disinformation,' and 'malinformation,'' as it would 'unconstitutionally abridge the free speech of any American citizen.' All awards deemed inconsistent with the new criteria have been terminated, according to the document.
Neither Panchanathan's statement nor the FAQ specified how many grants were affected or the total dollar amount. However, the Department of Government Efficiency, which is spearheading the government-wide debloating effort,
These changes come amid heightened scrutiny of the agency by Congress. In February, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas)
Among those NSF grants the senator highlighted was a $1,034,751 award in 2023 to Northwestern University for a project that aims to 'reimagine' STEM education through a 'racial equity' framework. He also cited a $99,791 grant to the Georgia Institute of Technology for a project addressing 'racialized privilege in the STEM classroom.'
In another example, the NSF in 2022 awarded $401,744 to San José State University for an ongoing initiative to train teachers and students as 'climate justice action researchers and change agents.'
'DEI initiatives have poisoned research efforts, eroded confidence in the scientific community, and fueled division among Americans,' Cruz, who chairs the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, said in a statement. 'Congress must end the politicization of NSF funding and restore integrity to scientific research.'
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