Trump fires all 22 members of the National Science Board

US President Donald Trump has fired the 22 members of the National Science Board (NSB), an entity that establishes the policies of the National Science Foundation (NSF National Science Foundation ), an independent agency supporting fundamental research and education in all non-medical fields of science and engineering.

US media reported that all members received an email on 24/04/2026 stating that their position was “terminated effective immediately”.

Democrat Senator Maria Cantwell from the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation said in a statement that the move was “a dangerous attack on the institutions and expertise that drive American innovation and discovery".

The National Science Board was created in 1950 to advise the president and Congress on science and engineering policy, approve funding awards and guide NSF’s strategy. Its members, who are from academia and industry, are appointed by the president and serve for six years.

On 28/04, the Biophysical Society reacted by denouncing the termination of the board. "This apparent attempt to strip an agency of all authority to act in the nation’s scientific interest, while sidestepping Congress, cannot be allowed to stand. Congress must intervene and reinstate the NSB immediately and put pressure on the White House to nominate a qualified candidate to lead the NSF."

The international scientific society drew attention to the resignation of NSF President Sethuraman Panchanathan in April 2025. Although he had been appointed by Trump, his resignation happened a few days after the White House had published orders for a 55% cut to the agency’s $9bn budget and fire half its 1700-person staff.

Congress maintained NSF's funding last year, but a similar cut is on the table for the coming year and scientists fear that without a board, it would be harder to oppose it.