Trump Replaces All Members of the National Science Board, Further Disrupting Research Funding System
U.S. President Trump has replaced all members of the National Science Board, a move confirmed by multiple sources and adding further pressure to the already turbulent U.S. research funding system. The National Science Board advises the President and Congress on matters related to the National Science Foundation, which has recently experienced historically low funding levels and significant delays in fund disbursement.
Reports indicate that the National Science Foundation has long played a crucial role in the U.S. technological innovation system, supporting the development of technologies such as magnetic resonance imaging and mobile phones, and also assisting language learning platform Duolingo in its early stages. Therefore, the complete replacement of the National Science Board is seen by outsiders as a significant event that could further impact U.S. research governance and basic research support mechanisms.
Zoe Lofgren, the ranking member of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, issued a statement strongly criticizing the Trump administration's move. She stated that the National Science Board has always been a non-partisan body responsible for advising the President on the future development of the National Science Foundation, and that Trump has consistently pressured the National Science Foundation since taking office, and is now attempting to destroy the committee that provides guidance to the foundation.
Lofgren also questioned whether Trump would next restructure the National Science Board based on political loyalty, replacing existing members with "people loyal to MAGA" to ensure the committee does not provide a check on his power. She warned that this practice could further weaken U.S. leadership in science and hand it over to competitors.
Against the backdrop of tightening U.S. research funding and continued delays in the allocation process, the complete replacement of the National Science Board adds further uncertainty to the future of U.S. science policy. Public opinion is widely focused on how the White House will restructure the organization next, and what profound impact this move will have on the future operation of the National Science Foundation and the research funding ecosystem.