The research community in the United States is in shock after the director of the National Science Foundation (NSF), Sethuraman Panchanathan, resigned in force immediately On April 24 with more than a year in his six -year term. The electrician and computer scientist engineer, also known as “Panch”, was appointed by Trump to lead the agency of $ 9 billion (6.75 billion pounds Sterling) in December 2019 and took the role the following month. His departure from the NSF, which supports fundamental research and education in non -medical fields of science and engineering such as chemistry, comes after a few tumultuous months during which the Trump administration targeted the agency with cuts to its funding and its staff.
In a statement announcing his departure, Panchanathan said: “I think I have done everything I can to advance the agency’s critical mission and think it’s time for me to pass the stick to a new leadership”. The declaration did not explain why he resigned but in His letter of resignationsent to NSF staff and subsequently obtained by SciencePanchanathan wrote: “ `Although NSF has always been an effective agency, we have nevertheless noted the challenge of identifying other possible efficiency and reducing the scientific community even better … It is a pivotal moment for our nation in terms of global competitiveness … A thoughtful approach to efficiency and investments is incredibly important. ”.
We still do not know who will serve as an acting director of the agency in the interval before the announcement of a permanent leader.
Massive budget cuts, expected layoffs
The turmoil currently surrounding the agency includes reports earlier this month according to which the Trump administration has planned a 55% reduction in the NSF budget, in addition to significant staff dismissals, and A recent announcement Whether the NSF puts an end to research subsidies linked to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) or the fight against disinformation.
Meanwhile, active research projects funded by the NSF and other universities’ federal agencies across the country are also suddenly dismissed, and The reports have recently surfaced indicating that members of the Ministry of Government Effectiveness (DOGE), led by billionaire Elon Musk, look for a role in decisions to finance research grants.
“ The drop in the budget of the National Science Foundation is a deliberate dismemberment of the American innovation engine by (Director of management of the White House management and budget director) Russell Vought and Doge ” ” said senator Maria CantwellThe best democrat of the Senate, Science and Transport Competence Committee that has competence on science, engineering and technology policy. “Do not blame Panch for having resigned.
Neal LaneA physicist who was a scientific advisor to former president Bill Clinton and previously director of the NSF, said that he admires Panch for staying at the agency as long as he did. “ I cannot imagine how much he had to try to protect the NSF from attacks … by Trump and Musk ”, says Lane World of chemistry. “My feeling is that the White House simply ignored its authority and did whatever they wanted, while the Republican Directorate in the Congress seemed in the other direction,” he continues.
Chemistry World The contributor Chemjobber, an American chemist who works in the manufacturing of chemicals, believes that this will probably not change soon. “We have no idea of the Trump administration plans for the American R&D apparatus, apart from the cancellation of the subsidy summary,” he said.